Chapter III

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

anew

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

(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 UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

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

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

plural of “blowhole” — the spiracle of a cetacean located far back on the skull

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

a youthful male person

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

plural of “bristle” — a stiff fiber (coarse hair or filament); natural or synthetic

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

exercising caution or showing care or attention

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

the skilled practice of a practical occupation

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

earlier in time; previously

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

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

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

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

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

receive an academic degree upon completion of one's studies

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

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

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

used of persons; emotionally hardened

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

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

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

having a heading or course in a certain direction

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

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

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

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

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

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

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

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

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

immediately past

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

engage in

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

(astronomy) any of the small solid extraterrestrial bodies that hits the earth's atmosphere

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

above and across; more than

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

go across or through

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

plural of “scholar” — a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

get rid of

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

make a splashing sound

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

revolve quickly and repeatedly around one's own axis

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

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

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

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

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

the act of using

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

precisely as stated

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

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

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

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

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading The weather had indeed hardened over Sunday, so that the slush was turned into ice again.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

prolific English writer best known for his science-fiction novels; he also wrote on contemporary social problems and wrote popular accounts of history and science (1866-1946)

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

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

From this reading UP THE MOHUNK ON AN ICE-BOAT As Fred and Bristles, as well as Sid Wells, were all taking a post graduate course, they got out much earlier than any of the other scholars.

in or at the place that

From this reading "We'll have to be careful about some of the blowholes in the ice," Bristles was saying, as they headed for the bank where he kept his craft in a shed he had built for the purpose, and which was close to Fred's home.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.

in the company of; together with

From this reading This was how on Monday afternoon Bristles turned up at the Fenton home close to the river, he having arranged with Fred to have a last spin on the ice-boat which the Carpenter boy had made himself, and used with more or less success during the past Winter.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading The surface of the river was not as smooth as they could have wished, but then since it promised to be their very last chance to make use of the _Meteor_ that year, the boys could not complain, or let the opportunity pass by.