used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
anew
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
aliveadjectiveUS /əˈlaɪv/
possessing life
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
foremostadjectiveUS /ˈfɔːrmoʊst/
ranking above all others
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
having great power or force or potency or effect
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
quantitynounUS /ˈkwɑːntəti/
how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
regainedverbUS /riˈɡeɪnd/
past form of “regain” — get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
semi-conscious
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
strangulationnounUS /ˌstræŋɡjəˈleɪʃən/
the act of suffocating (someone) by constricting the windpipe
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
express a supposition
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
supremeadjectiveUS /səˈpriːm/
final or last in your life or progress
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
swallowverbUS /ˈswɑːloʊ/
pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
swimmernounUS /ˈswɪmər/
a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading Although I was a powerful swimmer it seemed as if I should never reach the surface again.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
therebyadverbUS /ˈðerˈbaɪ/
by that means or because of that
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
not expected or anticipated
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
vergenounUS /vɜːrdʒ/
a region marking a boundary
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
a tube in which a body fluid circulates
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
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 It was in a semi-conscious state that I struck the water head foremost, and it was by instinct, I suppose, that I immediately started to swim away from the side of the vessel.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading It was then some time before I regained my breath and fully understood what had happened.
at the time that
From this reading When almost on the verge of strangulation, however, by a supreme effort I finally managed to reach the air again, more dead than alive.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The sudden and unexpected plunge had caused me to go into the sea with my mouth open and thereby swallow a large quantity of salt water.
