Chapter XV · Chapter 15

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

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

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

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

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

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

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

From this reading "Ay, ay, sir.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

at or toward the back of something

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "Can you save Strake, Rogers?" shouted down Syd.

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

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

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

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

go or come after and bring or take back

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

past form of “grasp” — hold firmly

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

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

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

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

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

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

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

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

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

the message that is intended or expressed or signified

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

breathing heavily (as after exertion)

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

United States humorist remembered for his homespun commentary on politics and American society (1879-1935)

From this reading "Can you save Strake, Rogers?" shouted down Syd.

a strong line

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

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

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

except for; apart from

From this reading "Can you save Strake, Rogers?" shouted down Syd.

express in words

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

plural of “shark” — any of numerous elongate mostly marine carnivorous fishes with heterocercal caudal fins and tough skin covered with small toothlike scales

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

in a vehement outcry

From this reading "Can you save Strake, Rogers?" shouted down Syd.

term of address for a man

From this reading "Ay, ay, sir.

with low volume

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

thick plank forming a ridge along the side of a wooden ship

From this reading "Can you save Strake, Rogers?" shouted down Syd.

the act of swimming

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

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

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

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

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

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

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

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

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

doing arduous or unpleasant work

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

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

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

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

From this reading Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

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 Roylance was back to his old place, had let himself down softly into the water, and was swimming hard for the rock.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Before Syd could more than say to himself, "Why did he do that?"

in the company of; together with

From this reading "It was to attract the sharks," said a voice behind him, as some one else grasped the meaning of the act, and to Syd's intense delight he heard a panting sound, and another of the sailors came toiling up with a fresh ring of rope which he had been to fetch.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Can you save Strake, Rogers?" shouted down Syd.