used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
actionsnounUS /ˈækʃənz/
plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
anew
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
at all times; all the time and on every occasion
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
babenounUS /beɪb/
a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
a youthful male person
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
bubblesnounUS /ˈbʌbəlz/
plural of “bubble” — a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
championnounUS /ˈtʃæmpiən/
someone who has won first place in a competition
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
clutchnounUS /klʌtʃ/
the act of grasping
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
CRAMPnounUS /kræmp/
a painful and involuntary muscular contraction
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
desperatelyadverbUS /ˈdespərətli/
with great urgency
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
everydeterminerUS /ˈevəri/
all the members of a group, with none left out
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
foolingadjectiveUS /ˈfuːlɪŋ/
characterized by a feeling of irresponsibility
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
franticadjectiveUS /ˈfræntɪk/
excessively agitated; distraught with fear or other violent emotion
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
furiouslyadverbUS /ˈfjʊriəsli/
(of the elements) in a wild and stormy manner
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
come to pass
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
JOELnounUS /ˈdʒoʊəl/
a Hebrew minor prophet
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
and nothing more
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
subject to death
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
musclenounUS /ˈmʌsəl/
one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
not any; not one
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
and nothing more
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
paralyzesverbUS /ˈperəlaɪzɪz/
third-person singular of “paralyze” — make powerless and unable to function
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
to some extent; in some degree; not wholly
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
perilnounUS /ˈperəl/
a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
seizesverbUS /ˈsiːzɪz/
third-person singular of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
spasmodicadjectiveUS /spæzˈmɔːdɪk/
affected by involuntary jerky muscular contractions; resembling a spasm
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
strongestadjectiveUS /ˈstrɔːŋɡəst/
superlative of “strong” — having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
engaged in a struggle to overcome especially poverty or obscurity
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading When a cramp seizes any one, no matter if he should happen to be a champion in the art of swimming, he is always in mortal peril of his life, especially should he be at some distance from the shore, and in deep water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
threshingnoun
the separation of grain or seeds from the husks and straw
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
thrillingadjectiveUS /ˈθrɪlɪŋ/
causing a surge of emotion or excitement
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
TobynounUS /ˈtoʊbi/
a drinking mug in the shape of a stout man wearing a three-cornered hat
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
plural of “tone” — the quality of a person's voice
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
a fact that has been verified
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
underneathprepositionUS /ˌʌndərˈniːθ/
directly under, often hidden by what is above
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
undoubtedlyadverbUS /ənˈdaʊtɪdli/
without doubt; certainly
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
vanishingnounUS /ˈvænɪʃɪŋ/
a sudden or mysterious disappearance
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
precisely as stated
From this reading It almost paralyzes every muscle, and the strongest becomes like a very babe in its spasmodic clutch.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
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 He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
at the time that
From this reading WHEN THE CRAMP SEIZED JOEL What the excited Toby had just said in thrilling tones was undoubtedly the truth.
whirlverbUS /wɜːrl/
turn in a twisting or spinning motion
From this reading He was threshing the water furiously, now vanishing partly underneath, only to come up again in a whirl of bubbles.
which person or people
From this reading There was no "fooling" about the frantic actions of the boy who was struggling so desperately out in the lake.
