used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DICK MAKES A DISCOVERY.
abilitynounUS /əˈbɪlətiː/
the quality of being able to perform; a quality that permits or facilitates achievement or accomplishment
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
any person at all
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
chumsnounUS /tʃʌmz/
plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
the act of drawing spatially closer to something
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
someone who is a detective
From this reading DICK MAKES A DISCOVERY.
the act of discovering something
From this reading DICK MAKES A DISCOVERY.
(of persons) excessively affected by emotion
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
the feeling of lively and cheerful joy
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
fasteradverbUS /ˈfæstər/
more quickly
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
finnounUS /fɪn/
the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
gaitnounUS /ɡeɪt/
the rate of moving (especially walking or running)
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
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 ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
interferedverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪrd/
past form of “interfere” — come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
plural of “make” — a recognizable kind
From this reading DICK MAKES A DISCOVERY.
MattnounUS /mæt/
the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
an uneasy psychological state
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
not ever; at no time in the past or future
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
on one occasion
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
with speed
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
with speed
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
resourcefullyadverb
in a resourceful manner
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
any member of a ship's crew
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
sharknounUS /ʃɑːrk/
any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
situationsnounUS /ˌsɪtʃuːˈeɪʃənz/
plural of “situation” — the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
slittingverbUS /ˈslɪtɪŋ/
inflected form of “slit” — make a clean cut through
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
steadinessnounUS /ˈstedinɪs/
freedom from wavering or indecision; constancy of resolve or conduct
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
tackingnounUS /ˈtækɪŋ/
a loose temporary sewing stitch to hold layers of fabric together
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
judge or regard; look upon; judge
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
triangularadjectiveUS /traɪˈæŋɡjələr/
having three angles; forming or shaped like a triangle
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
hard to endure
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
moved around an axis or center
From this reading The ability of the king of the motor boys to "keep his head" in trying situations had more than once turned the tide for himself and his chums.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Dick was swimming rapidly, but the shark, of course, was cutting through the water at a much faster gait.
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 Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Matt could become as excited as anybody, but excitement never interfered with the steadiness of his nerves or with his ability to think quickly and resourcefully in time of danger.
(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth
From this reading Far beyond Dick Matt could see a black, triangular fin slitting the water, tacking this way and that, but coming closer and closer to the young sailor.
