Chapter XX

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

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

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

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

a person whose creative work shows sensitivity and imagination

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

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

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

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

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

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

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

having a face or facing especially of a specified kind or number; often used in combination

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

promote over another

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

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

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

to the greatest degree or extent; completely or entirely; (“full” in this sense is used as a combining form)

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

the act of departing

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

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

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

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

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

having a heading or course in a certain direction

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

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

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

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

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

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

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

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

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

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

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

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

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

an organization of missionaries in a foreign land sent to carry on religious work

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

a particular point in time

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

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

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

on one occasion

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

to some extent; in some degree; not wholly

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

having great power or force or potency or effect

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

established beyond doubt

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

free from harm or evil

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

delivered from danger

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

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

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

apprehension about what is going to happen

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

inflected form of “swim” — travel through water

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

moving very fast

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

used as intensifiers

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

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

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

in or at that place or location

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

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

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

the act of hauling something (as a vehicle) by means of a hitch or rope

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

in the direction of

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

precisely as stated

From this reading The water was terribly rough, but as he swam low anyhow, with his face under the surface more than half the time, that didn’t matter very much.

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

From this reading THE RESCUE There was a moment of suspense for those on the deck of the house-boat.

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 Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

at the time that

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading His task was not a difficult one for a good swimmer, as he at once proved himself, as long as he was going with the wind behind him and the current partly in his favor.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Then a brown head arose from the water fully twenty feet away, and a powerful arm followed it, and with long, swift strokes the artist headed toward the overturned boat on his mission of rescue.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.

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

From this reading The difficult work would begin when, with the rescued man in tow, he faced wind and current to regain the island.