used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
aboardadverbUS /əˈbɔːrd/
on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading "Ay, shan't we take you aboard now?
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
Areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "Are you from the oysterman?"
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
Ay
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ay, shan't we take you aboard now?
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
come or bring to a finish or an end
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
large or relatively large in number or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
DESERTERnounUS /ˈdezərtər/
a disloyal person who betrays or deserts his cause or religion or political party or friend etc.
From this reading THE DESERTER.
an effort that is inconvenient
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
divisible by two
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading "Are you from the oysterman?"
graspedverbUS /ɡræspt/
past form of “grasp” — hold firmly
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
gunwalenoun
wale at the top of the side of boat; topmost planking of a wooden vessel
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
evidencing the possession of inside information
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
locatingnounUS /ˈloʊkeɪtɪŋ/
the act of putting something in a certain place
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
near in time or place or relationship
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "Ay, shan't we take you aboard now?
oysterman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Are you from the oysterman?"
not move; be in a resting position
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
shan't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Ay, shan't we take you aboard now?
swimmernounUS /ˈswɪmər/
a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
carry out
From this reading "Ay, shan't we take you aboard now?
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DESERTER.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading As we came alongside he grasped the gunwale to rest himself, and asked:
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Even after knowing that the deserter was near at hand, we had considerable difficulty in locating him, and not until after making a complete circle around the swimmer could I see his head.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Are you from the oysterman?"
