used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
Can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Can’t we swim it?” cried Sandy desperately.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
clingingverbUS /ˈklɪŋɪŋ/
-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading “Can’t we swim it?” cried Sandy desperately.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading “Can’t we swim it?” cried Sandy desperately.
someone who is a detective
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
discoveringverbUS /dɪˈskʌvərɪŋ/
-ing form of “discover” — discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
regard something as probable or likely
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
fail to do something; leave something undone
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
floenounUS /floʊ/
a flat mass of ice (smaller than an ice field) floating at sea
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
floes
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
set up or found
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
characteristic of or befitting a friend
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
the act of departing
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
come to pass
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
ten 10s
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
inhabitedadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈhæbətəd/
having inhabitants; lived in
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading “Can’t we swim it?” cried Sandy desperately.
move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
in motion
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
not any; not one
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
the state of being certain that adverse effects will not be caused by some agent under defined conditions
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
SandyadjectiveUS /ˈsændi/
of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
cut with a saw
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
being or feeling set or kept apart from others
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
shoresnounUS /ʃɔːrz/
plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
sinceprepositionUS /sɪns/
from a time in the past until now
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
not in physical motion
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading “Can’t we swim it?” cried Sandy desperately.
tardyadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːrdi/
after the expected or usual time; delayed
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
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 When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading “Can’t we swim it?” cried Sandy desperately.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Coming to a sudden stop at the edge of the floe, they saw, with sinking hearts, that more than a hundred yards of icy salt water separated them from the floes that still were clinging to the shore.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
at the time that
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
in or at the place that
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
wideningnounUS /ˈwaɪdənɪŋ/
an increase in width
From this reading When Dick and Sandy ran for the edge of the moving floe which was nearest the shore, they realized what might happen to them should they fail to jump the widening stretch of water between them and safety.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading With the tide going out, they would be carried out into a sea where no ships sailed, and where they could expect no help from any friendly, inhabited shores.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading The floe which was carrying them off was fully three hundred yards across, and since they had been tardy in discovering their peril, they found fate against them.
