used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
anchoredverbUS /ˈæŋkərd/
past form of “anchor” — fix firmly and stably
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
separated or at a distance in place or position or time
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
Bobolinknoun
migratory American songbird
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
the two together, not just one
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
DODGINGnounUS /ˈdɑːdʒɪŋ/
nonperformance of something distasteful (as by deceit or trickery) that you are supposed to do
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
one or the other of two
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
plural of “fact” — a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
fixverbUS /fɪks/
restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
flagsnounUS /flæɡz/
plural of “flag” — emblem usually consisting of a rectangular piece of cloth of distinctive design
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
givenadjectiveUS /ˈɡɪvən/
acknowledged as a supposition
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
give help or assistance; be of service
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
a small worthless amount
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
Jud
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
gain knowledge or skills
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
mean or intend to express or convey
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
an area that is approximately central within some larger region
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
motorboats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
United States feminist (1885-1977)
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
Phil
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
quickestadverbUS /ˈkwɪkɪst/
most quickly
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
Radway
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
past form of “remark” — make mention of
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
in a vehement outcry
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
sixtyadjectiveUS /ˈsɪksti/
being ten more than fifty
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
slappingverbUS /ˈslæpɪŋ/
inflected form of “slap” — hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
SNAGSnounUS /snæɡz/
plural of “snag” — a sharp protuberance
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
SNARESnounUS /snerz/
plural of “snare” — something (often something deceptively attractive) that catches you unawares
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
Something's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
use up a period of time in a specific way
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
swift-flowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
the act of someone who picks up or takes something
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DODGING THE SNAGS AND THE SNARES A minute later both motorboats lay anchored in the middle of the swift-flowing Radway, and about sixty feet apart.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
plural of “think” — an instance of deliberate thinking
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
TownsnounUS /taʊnz/
plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading "Something's happened to our motor; but Jack thinks he can fix her up, given a little time," came in the voice of Bobolink.
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 "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
we've
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading "Well, call on us if we can help out any," Paul shouted; for the slapping of the water against the sides of the boat, as well as over the stones on either hand, made it hard to hear plainly.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
What's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What's the matter?" shouted Jud, taking it upon himself to learn the facts in the quickest possible time, so that signal flags were not used.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
won't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "What if they can't fix the motor up?" remarked Phil Towns; "I hope that won't mean we've got to spend the whole night out here in the middle of the river."
