used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Fortunately the swift stream was bringing it toward Fred as he plunged into the water.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
a youthful male person
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
the act of delivering or distributing something (as goods or mail)
From this reading Fortunately the swift stream was bringing it toward Fred as he plunged into the water.
canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
a friend who is frequently in the company of another
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
discardingverbUS /dɪˈskɑːrdɪŋ/
-ing form of “discard” — throw or cast away
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
the boundary of a surface
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
floatingadjectiveUS /ˈfloʊtɪŋ/
borne up by or suspended in a liquid
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
FortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading Fortunately the swift stream was bringing it toward Fred as he plunged into the water.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
the act of departing
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
only a very short time before
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/
with the head foremost
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Fortunately the swift stream was bringing it toward Fred as he plunged into the water.
immediately past
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
maintainverbUS /meɪnˈteɪn/
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
in other respects or ways
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
successfully completed or brought to an end
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
a particular situation
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
slopingadjectiveUS /ˈsloʊpɪŋ/
having an oblique or slanted direction
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
strugglingadjectiveUS /ˈstrʌɡəlɪŋ/
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
moving very fast
From this reading Fortunately the swift stream was bringing it toward Fred as he plunged into the water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading Throwing off his coat and discarding his shoes he plunged headlong into the river.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading Fortunately the swift stream was bringing it toward Fred as he plunged into the water.
unset
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
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 Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading Fred reached the edge of the water almost before his companion realized what was going on.
in the company of; together with
From this reading A canoe had unset in the stream, and a small boy was struggling to maintain his desperate clutch on the sloping side of the craft floating with the current.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had it been otherwise he would hardly have been able to reach it before the boy sank for the last time.
