used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
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 "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" asked Halyard, sharply.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
the two together, not just one
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
the act of breaking something
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
champagne-glass
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
frothnounUS /frɔːθ/
a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
glidedverbUS /ˈɡlaɪdɪd/
past form of “glide” — move smoothly and effortlessly
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
Halyardnoun
a rope for raising or lowering a sail or flag
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" asked Halyard, sharply.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
without delay or hesitation; with no time intervening
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
jerkedverbUS /dʒɜːrkt/
past form of “jerk” — pull, or move with a sudden movement
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
hear with intention
From this reading "Listen!" she whispered.
less than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" asked Halyard, sharply.
a particular point in time
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
try to cure by special care of treatment, of an illness or injury
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
porpoisenounUS /ˈpɔːrpəs/
any of several small gregarious cetacean mammals having a blunt snout and many teeth
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
purrverbUS /pɜːr/
make a soft swishing sound
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
Identical; not different.
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
in an aggressive manner
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" asked Halyard, sharply.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Listen!" she whispered.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
a thing, without saying which
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
tillernounUS /ˈtɪlər/
a shoot that sprouts from the base of a grass
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading Instantly something smooth glided under it, like the back of a great fish, and I jerked my hand back to the tiller.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "A fish came up under my hand," I said; "a porpoise or something--" With a low cry, the pretty nurse clasped my arm in both her hands.
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 At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" asked Halyard, sharply.
spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords
From this reading "Listen!" she whispered.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
in the company of; together with
From this reading At the same moment the whole surface of the water seemed to begin to purr, with a sound like the breaking of froth in a champagne-glass.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "What's the matter with you?" asked Halyard, sharply.
