used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Then came a sudden wrench.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
BEFELLverbUS /bɪˈfel/
inflected form of “befall” — become of; happen to
From this reading WHAT BEFELL US UPON THE SAND-SPIT.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
inflected form of “bear” — have
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Then came a sudden wrench.
not open or affording passage or access
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
opinion or judgment
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
fiercelyadverbUS /ˈfɪrsli/
in a physically fierce manner
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
foamnounUS /foʊm/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
used of mouth or eyes
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
roaringnounUS /ˈrɔːrɪŋ/
a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
SAND-SPIT
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WHAT BEFELL US UPON THE SAND-SPIT.
only a very short time before
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
happening without warning or in a short space of time
From this reading Then came a sudden wrench.
surfnounUS /sɜːrf/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
possessing sweep
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHAT BEFELL US UPON THE SAND-SPIT.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then came a sudden wrench.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading I felt that I was being borne out to sea, and scarce had the mind to continue the struggle.
undertownounUS /ˈʌndərtoʊ/
an inclination contrary to the strongest or prevailing feeling
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
UPONprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading WHAT BEFELL US UPON THE SAND-SPIT.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading WHAT BEFELL US UPON THE SAND-SPIT.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I opened my eyes, but the surf was full of foam and sand, so I closed them.
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 Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHAT BEFELL US UPON THE SAND-SPIT.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Down I went, the water roaring about my ears and my body pulled this way and that by the undertow which swept me fiercely up and down.
wrenchverbUS /rentʃ/
twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates
From this reading Then came a sudden wrench.
