used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
ailsnounUS /eɪlz/
plural of “ail” — aromatic bulb used as seasoning
From this reading "What ails the bally thing?" grumbled the anxious Nick.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
eagerly desirous
From this reading "What ails the bally thing?" grumbled the anxious Nick.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
ballyadjectiveUS /ˈbæli/
informal intensifiers
From this reading "What ails the bally thing?" grumbled the anxious Nick.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
terminate
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
captivitynounUS /kæpˈtɪvəti/
the state of being imprisoned
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
a living organism characterized by voluntary movement
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
characterized by great determination
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
the state of being unsure of something
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
with eagerness; in an eager manner
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
FORGESnounUS /ˈfɔːrdʒɪz/
plural of “forge” — furnace consisting of a special hearth where metal is heated before shaping
From this reading JIMMY FORGES TO THE FRONT.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
the side that is forward or prominent
From this reading JIMMY FORGES TO THE FRONT.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
grumbledverbUS /ˈɡrʌmbəld/
past form of “grumble” — show one's unhappiness or critical attitude
From this reading "What ails the bally thing?" grumbled the anxious Nick.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
to move or force, especially in an effort to get something open
From this reading JIMMY FORGES TO THE FRONT.
laurelsnounUS /ˈlɔːrəlz/
a tangible symbol signifying approval or distinction
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
the act that results in something coming to be
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
NickverbUS /nɪk/
cut slightly, with a razor
From this reading "What ails the bally thing?" grumbled the anxious Nick.
not one, and not any
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
and nothing more
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
porpoisenounUS /ˈpɔːrpəs/
any of several small gregarious cetacean mammals having a blunt snout and many teeth
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
by chance
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
established beyond doubt
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
in accordance with truth or fact or reality
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
rivalverbUS /ˈraɪvəl/
be equal to in quality or ability
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
Identical; not different.
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
move hurridly
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
not in physical motion
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
strandedadjectiveUS /ˈstrændɪd/
cut off or left behind
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
strenuousadjectiveUS /ˈstrenjuːəs/
characterized by or performed with much energy or force
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
stroveverbUS /stroʊv/
inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading JIMMY FORGES TO THE FRONT.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
a special situation
From this reading "What ails the bally thing?" grumbled the anxious Nick.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
threshed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading JIMMY FORGES TO THE FRONT.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
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 Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What ails the bally thing?" grumbled the anxious Nick.
in the company of; together with
From this reading None of them could have any doubt about it; for was not the excited Jimmy making toward that same reef with all speed?
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
wrestverbUS /rest/
obtain by seizing forcibly or violently, also metaphorically
From this reading Determined to wrest the laurels from his rival, if it could possibly be done, he had only too eagerly seized upon this fine chance to get in some strenuous work.
distant but within sight (“yon” is dialectal)
From this reading Looking beyond, they could see that the stranded porpoise, if the object out yonder really proved to be such a creature, still threshed the water and strove to break away from its place of captivity.
