used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
alongsideadverbUS /əˈlɔːŋˈsaɪd/
side by side
From this reading The motor-boat came to a stop alongside the other.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb
From this reading Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath.
round object that is hit or thrown or kicked in games
From this reading It could be seen that the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading It could be seen that the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
bowsnounUS /baʊz/
plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading The motor-boat came to a stop alongside the other.
Carmichael's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath.
ChannelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
climbingnounUS /ˈklaɪmɪŋ/
an event that involves rising to a higher point (as in altitude or temperature or intensity etc.)
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
clutchedverbUS /klʌtʃt/
past form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
costumenounUS /kɑːˈstuːm/
the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It could be seen that the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.
detectivenounUS /dɪˈtektɪv/
a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
divernounUS /ˈdaɪvər/
someone who works underwater
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
in a serious manner
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
of concern to or concerning the affairs of other nations (other than your own)
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading It could be seen that the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.
occupied or in the control of; often used in combination
From this reading It could be seen that the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It could be seen that the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath.
motor-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger
From this reading Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading The motor-boat came to a stop alongside the other.
a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses
From this reading It could be seen that the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.
detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
in the near future
From this reading Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath.
a person who is head of an administrative department of government
From this reading In the bows the Foreign Secretary and the detective gazed earnestly forward.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading It could be seen that the diver held in his hand a ball of paper.
having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
come to a halt, stop moving
From this reading The motor-boat came to a stop alongside the other.
in a swift manner
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The motor-boat came to a stop alongside the other.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Another boat had come into view, and they perceived that a diver in full costume was climbing into it.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading Across the smooth waters of the English Channel a motor-boat moved swiftly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Presently the latter clutched Carmichael's arm with an oath.
