used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
(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 The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading CONVERSATIONS AND PLANS.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading That this had been done, was plainly evident.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
CONVERSATIONSnounUS /ˌkɑːnvərˈseɪʃənz/
plural of “conversation” — the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.
From this reading CONVERSATIONS AND PLANS.
dexterousadjective
skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
disappearancenounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrəns/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading That this had been done, was plainly evident.
one or the other of two
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment
From this reading That this had been done, was plainly evident.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
hiding-place
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
impenetrableadjectiveUS /ˌɪmˈpenətrəbəl/
not admitting of penetration or passage into or through
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
used when the thing doing the action is also its object
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
overhungverbUS /oʊvərˈhʌŋ/
inflected form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
paddlesnounUS /ˈpædəlz/
plural of “paddle” — small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading That this had been done, was plainly evident.
plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished
From this reading CONVERSATIONS AND PLANS.
get by special effort
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
cause to go somewhere
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
shrubberynounUS /ˈʃrʌbəri/
an area where a number of shrubs are planted
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
unusual or striking
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
strokesnounUS /stroʊks/
plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
supernaturalnounUS /ˌsuːpərˈnætʃərəl/
supernatural forces and events and beings collectively
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The disappearance of the canoe, although singular in itself, had nothing supernatural about it.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading That this had been done, was plainly evident.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
vigorousadjectiveUS /ˈvɪɡərəs/
characterized by forceful and energetic action or activity
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading The shrubbery, which overhung the water on either shore, offered a secure and impenetrable hiding-place, and a few dexterous, vigorous strokes of the paddles were all that was needed to send it beneath their shadows.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading Yet why had it been done?
but in spite of that
From this reading Yet why had it been done?
