Chapter XX · Chapter 20

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

give advice to

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

(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 I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

properly or sufficiently qualified or capable or efficient

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

third-person singular of “consist” — originate

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

be contingent upon (something that is elided)

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

plural of “desert” — arid land with little or no vegetation

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

using the minimum of time or resources necessary for effectiveness

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading EMILY GOODRIDGE.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

plural of “exertion” — use of physical or mental energy; hard work

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

third-person singular of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

set up or found

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

usually; as a rule

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading EMILY GOODRIDGE.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

a unit of instruction

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

for the most part

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

engage in

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

a particular point in time

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

for the most part

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

freed from illness or injury

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

resist doing something

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

except for; apart from

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

the capital raised by a corporation through the issue of shares entitling holders to an ownership interest

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

up to a particular time

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

not reasonable; not showing good judgment

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

the act of using

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

plural of “waste” — any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.

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 In the water, struggling for his own or another's life, a man's stock in trade consists mainly of breath.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading I held on at the raft till I had recovered my breath, and felt strong enough to make another effort; for I found that my own life and that of my charge were to depend principally on my own exertions.

at the time that

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Without that he can't do much, and generally he fails for the want of it; not when life deserts him, but when he might, by an economical use of it, have been able to save himself.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading I had been in the water enough to learn this lesson, and to be competent to advise all my young friends, in the moment of peril, to refrain from useless and unreasonable struggling, for that wastes the breath, and fritters away the strength.