Chapter XXXIII · Chapter 33

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

disposed to attack

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

the two together, not just one

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

past form of “dangle” — hang freely

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

a cheap disreputable nightclub or dance hall

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

past form of “dive” — drop steeply

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

divisible by two

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

a small fragment of something broken off from the whole

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

cause to move by striking

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

the act of retaining something

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

dry outer covering of a fruit or seed or nut

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

situated within or suitable for inside a building

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

any art that invokes supernatural powers

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

not able to be found

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

in a narrow manner; not allowing for exceptions

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

not any; not one

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

and nothing more

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

above and across; more than

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

past form of “penetrate” — pass into or through, often by overcoming resistance

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

a strong line

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

a white or silvered surface where pictures can be projected for viewing

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

transport commercially

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

fastener consisting of a narrow strip of welded metal used to join steel members

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

beneath the surface of the water

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

inflected form of “swim” — travel through water

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

-ing form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

an involuntary vibration (as if from illness or fear)

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

lacking self-confidence

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The smoke of the guns of both ships so hung upon the air that Chris counted on its heavy curtain to screen him from his enemies.

a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

any of various large diurnal birds of prey having naked heads and weak claws and feeding chiefly on carrion

From this reading He swam to the far side of the attacking vessel and there forced his magic knife for the second time against the side of the _Vulture_.

a message informing of danger

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

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 treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

indecision in speech or action

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

at the time that

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

in or at the place that

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was treading water, holding to a rope that dangled over the side of the ship when, with no interior tremor of warning, a cut that he almost thought had penetrated to the bone lashed across his shoulders narrowly missing his left ear.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Without stopping to think Chris took half a breath and submerged as deeply as he could go, hearing above him, even through the sounds of the battle and the wavering water, the "fleck!" of Claggett Chew's metal-tipped whip as it hit the water where he had been only a second before.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Chris would have dived under the great barnacled hull of the _Vulture_ then and there, to come up on the other side, but good swimmer though he was, he was unsure that he could hold even a full breath for so long a dive.