Chapter XXXII · Chapter 32

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

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

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

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

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

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

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

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

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

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

a youthful male person

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

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

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

travel across or pass over

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

-ing form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

a narrow gorge with a stream running through it

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

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

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

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

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

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

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

impossible to resist; overpowering

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

a small worthless amount

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

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

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

a brief written record

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

and nothing more

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

above and across; more than

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

plural of “plank” — a stout length of sawn timber; made in a wide variety of sizes and used for many purposes

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

inflected form of “propel” — cause to move forward with force

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

plural of “runner” — someone who imports or exports without paying duties

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

being a smooth continuous motion

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

moving as on a slippery surface

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

conduit that carries a rapid flow of water controlled by a sluicegate

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

move hurridly

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

beneath the surface of the water

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

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

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

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

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading A glance over their heads showed them the stars, and there was a confused blurr of the many cross- pieces.

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

From this reading At first it was so dark in the big box they could see nothing.

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

From this reading Then, as their eyes grew accustomed to the gloom, they could note the sides of the flume slipping past them.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

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

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

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 THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.

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

From this reading The planks were submerged only a few inches, so great was the force of the current, and Jack and Nat, crouching on them as a boy goes sliding down hill on his sled, with his head between the points of the runners, felt themselves propelled forward with an irresistible power.

in the company of; together with

From this reading DOWN THE SLUICEWAY Almost with the speed of an arrow from the bow the two boys flew forward on the swiftly-moving water in the sluiceway.