used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
a record or narrative description of past events
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading They came with a rush.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
canvasman
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading “Come on, you fellows!” yelled Ike to his men.
ELEPHANTnounUS /ˈeləfənt/
five-toed pachyderm
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
emergencynounUS /ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi/
a sudden unforeseen crisis (usually involving danger) that requires immediate action
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
plural of “fellow” — a boy or man
From this reading “Come on, you fellows!” yelled Ike to his men.
the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
grabbedverbUS /ɡræbd/
inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
hold firmly
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
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 rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
helpersnounUS /ˈhelpərz/
plural of “helper” — a person who contributes to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading “Come on, you fellows!” yelled Ike to his men.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
IkenounUS /aɪk/
United States general who supervised the invasion of Normandy and the defeat of Nazi Germany; 34th President of the United States (1890-1961)
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
roused to anger
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
past form of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
the force of workers available
From this reading “Come on, you fellows!” yelled Ike to his men.
the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
polenounUS /poʊl/
a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
a strong line
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
move hurridly
From this reading They came with a rush.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
slippingadjectiveUS /ˈslɪpɪŋ/
moving as on a slippery surface
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
sturdyadjectiveUS /ˈstɜːrdi/
having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships
From this reading The rope was slipping from the grasp of the head canvasman, but with the aid of his sturdy helpers he managed to hold it.
swayedverbUS /sweɪd/
past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
swayingverbUS /ˈsweɪɪŋ/
-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They came with a rush.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE MAD ELEPHANT But Ike was equal to the emergency.
the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
covered or soaked with a liquid such as water
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading With one motion, he had leaped to the foot of the swaying pole, which held up a great weight of wet canvas, and he had grabbed the rope which had slipped on account of the manner in which the tent swayed.
yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/
in a vehement outcry
From this reading “Come on, you fellows!” yelled Ike to his men.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “Come on, you fellows!” yelled Ike to his men.
