used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
the quality of having a superior or more favorable position
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The plank had floated too far away to seize.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
made or become different in nature or form
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
the person or thing chosen or selected
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
depthnounUS /depθ/
the extent downward or backward or inward
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
be identical or equivalent to
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading The plank had floated too far away to seize.
an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
the act of fighting; any contest or struggle
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
floatedverbUS /ˈfloʊtəd/
past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading The plank had floated too far away to seize.
the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
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 water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
immovablenounUS /ˌɪˈmuːvəbəl/
property consisting of houses and land
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
irresistibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪrɪˈzɪstəbəl/
impossible to resist; overpowering
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
lagoonnounUS /ləˈɡuːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
having or showing great strength or force or intensity
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
mothnounUS /mɔːθ/
typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
musclesnounUS /ˈmʌsəlz/
plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
used when the speaker is also the object of the action
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
on one occasion
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
outcomenounUS /ˈaʊtkʌm/
something that results
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
outletnounUS /ˈaʊtlet/
a place of business for retailing goods
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading The plank had floated too far away to seize.
a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
except for; apart from
From this reading If fate had given me the choice of fighting to save myself it would not have changed the outcome in the least.
seizeverbUS /siːz/
take hold of; grab
From this reading The plank had floated too far away to seize.
sink-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
sinkingnounUS /ˈsɪŋkɪŋ/
a descent as through liquid (especially through water)
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
suctionnounUS /ˈsʌkʃən/
a force over an area produced by a pressure difference
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
surroundingadjectiveUS /sərˈaʊndɪŋ/
closely encircling
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The plank had floated too far away to seize.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
undergroundadjectiveUS /ˈʌndərɡraʊnd/
under the level of the ground
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
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 The water surrounding the underground outlet was not of great depth--an inch or so over five feet--but the suction of the sink-hole was irresistible.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Once caught in those sinking waters meant to go down with them; and a moth would have struggled to equal advantage.
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 The water was deep enough that if, by a mighty wrench of muscles, I was able to seize with my hands some immovable rock on the lagoon floor my head would have been under water.
