Chapter XXVII · Chapter 27

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

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

the quality of having a superior or more favorable position

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

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

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

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

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

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

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

plural of “blow” — a powerful stroke with the fist or a weapon

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

the law enforcement agency of the Justice Department that operates a nationwide system of prisons and detention facilities to incarcerate inmates sentenced to imprisonment for federal crimes

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

confined by bonds

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

a youthful male person

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

a steep high face of rock

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

a person who is older than you are

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

divisible by two

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

-ing form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

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

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

be in charge of, act on, or dispose of

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

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

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

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

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

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

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

cause to move by striking

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

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

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

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

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

a boy or man

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

a particular point in time

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

of an obscure nature

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

on one occasion

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

above and across; more than

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

the region of the shore of a lake or sea or ocean

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

cut with a saw

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

diligent and thorough in inquiry or investigation

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

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

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

in or at that place or location

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

closely constrained or constricted or constricting

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Several times he hit Frank or Andy glancing blows, and once he gave the elder lad such a bop on the side of the head that the boy saw stars for a moment.

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

From this reading He was big and strong, and he had evidently been in tight places before, for he knew how to handle himself.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.

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

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Every time he got a chance, as he and his captors rolled together over the sands, he would strike out with his two hands at once.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading And the boys did not have such an advantage as it would seem at first, even though the hands and feet of their mysterious prisoner were bound.

something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation

From this reading SEARCHING THE WRECK There was a hard struggle on the beach of lonely Cliff Island.