used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
amidprepositionUS /əˈmɪd/
in the middle of; surrounded by
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
canoemen
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
canoesnounUS /kəˈnuːz/
plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
clumsyadjectiveUS /ˈklʌmzi/
lacking grace in movement or posture
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
-ing form of “consider” — deem to be
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
dangersnounUS /ˈdeɪndʒərz/
plural of “danger” — the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading The voyage, however, was not without its dangers.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
move gently or carefully
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
exertverbUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrt/
put to use
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
frailadjectiveUS /freɪl/
physically weak
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
heaveverbUS /hiːv/
utter a sound, as with obvious effort
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
hippopotamusnounUS /ˌhɪpəˈpɑːtəməs/
massive thick-skinned herbivorous animal living in or around rivers of tropical Africa
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading The voyage, however, was not without its dangers.
unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The voyage, however, was not without its dangers.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The voyage, however, was not without its dangers.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
used when we are both doing the action and receiving it
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
overturnverbUS /ˈoʊvərtɜːrn/
turn from an upright or normal position
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
paddleverbUS /ˈpædəl/
propel with a paddle
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
raftnounUS /ræft/
a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/
a rate that is rapid
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
recliningnounUS /rɪˈklaɪnɪŋ/
the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
shoutsnounUS /ʃaʊts/
plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
shovedverbUS /ʃʌvd/
past form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
threateningadjectiveUS /ˈθretənɪŋ/
threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
towedverbUS /toʊd/
past form of “tow” — drag behind
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
displeasing to the senses
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
an act of traveling by water
From this reading The voyage, however, was not without its dangers.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading All things being ready, amid the shouts of the people on shore, we shoved off, and, being towed cut into the stream by the canoes, set sail.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Considering the clumsy nature of our raft, we glided on with great rapidity, the canoemen having to paddle pretty hard to keep up with us.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading It was pleasant to be reclining at our ease, and to be borne along without having to exert ourselves.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Now and then a huge hippopotamus would show its ugly head alongside, threatening to overturn our frail craft, which it might easily have done with one heave of its back.
