used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
ampleadjectiveUS /ˈæmpəl/
more than enough in size or scope or capacity
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
ashoreadverbUS /əˈʃɔːr/
towards the shore from the water
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
the lower side of anything
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But why should he be shot at?
showing who or what does the action
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
calculateverbUS /ˈkælkjəleɪt/
make a mathematical calculation or computation
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
an occurrence of something
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
chancesnounUS /ˈtʃænsəz/
plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
complyverbUS /kəmˈplaɪ/
act in accordance with someone's rules, commands, or wishes
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
carefully weighed
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
CRUISEverbUS /kruːz/
drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure
From this reading WINN'S LONELY CRUISE.
all through a period, or at some point within it
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
elapseverbUS /ɪˈlæps/
pass by
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
considered likely or probable to happen or arrive
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
an act that fails
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
formed or conceived by the imagination
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
produced by or subjected to forcing
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
greetedverbUS /ˈɡriːtəd/
past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
half-hournounUS /ˈhæfaʊər/
a half of an hour
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
cause to move by striking
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
lacking companions or companionship
From this reading WINN'S LONELY CRUISE.
momentarilyadverbUS /ˌmoʊmənˈterəli/
for an instant or moment
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
the particular portion of space occupied by something
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
recoververbUS /rɪˈkʌvər/
get or find back; recover the use of
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
recumbentadjective
lying down; in a position of comfort or rest
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
reflectverbUS /rɪˈflekt/
manifest or bring back
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
rifle-shot
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
move upward
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
the act of firing a projectile
From this reading But why should he be shot at?
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading But why should he be shot at?
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
skiffnounUS /skɪf/
any of various small boats propelled by oars or by sails or by a motor
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading At first he fancied that he heard sounds of pursuit, and momentarily expected to be greeted by a stern order from the bank to bring the skiff ashore.
in a strange manner
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”
From this reading But why should he be shot at?
Winn
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading During the half-hour that Winn allowed to elapse before he considered it safe to rise from his recumbent position in the bottom of the skiff, he had ample opportunity to recover his breath, and reflect upon the new situation into which he had been so strangely forced.
WINN'S
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading WINN'S LONELY CRUISE.
past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He wondered if a failure to comply would be followed by a rifle-shot, and then began to calculate the chances of being hit in such a case.
