used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
any person at all
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
surrounding, or on every side of, something
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
continue a certain state, condition, or activity
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
dashingadjectiveUS /ˈdæʃɪŋ/
lively and spirited
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
-ing form of “do” — engage in
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
Holton
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
humanadjectiveUS /ˈhjuːmən/
characteristic of humanity
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
a form of address for a man
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
on one occasion
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
outcomenounUS /ˈaʊtkʌm/
something that results
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
punyadjectiveUS /ˈpjuːni/
inferior in strength or significance
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
rapidsnounUS /ˈræpədz/
plural of “rapid” — a part of a river where the current is very fast
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
reluctantadjectiveUS /rɪˈlʌktənt/
unwillingness to do something contrary to your custom
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
steeringnounUS /ˈstɪrɪŋ/
the act of guiding or showing the way
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
swampedverbUS /swɔːmpt/
past form of “swamp” — drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
swervenounUS /swɜːrv/
the act of turning aside suddenly
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
causing fear or dread or terror
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The Indian who was steering heard and was doing his best to swerve the craft about, but he was having little luck.
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 Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
we'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Turn the head around or we'll be swamped at once."
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Water was now dashing into the boat, and if this were to continue there could be but one outcome--tragedy!
which person or people
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
yelledadjectiveUS /jeld/
in a vehement outcry
From this reading The Call for Help "Quick!" yelled Mr. Holton to anyone who might hear.
yieldverbUS /jiːld/
be the cause or source of
From this reading The terrible rapids was reluctant to yield to the puny efforts of a mere human being.
