Chapter II · A Close Shave

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

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

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

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

travel up

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

of or relating to Canada or its people

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

the skilled practice of a practical occupation

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

let fall to the ground

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

earlier in time; previously

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

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

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

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

From this reading The Gallops were worse than Ralph had hitherto seen them.

the act of departing

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

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

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

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

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

used in negative statement to describe a situation that has existed up to this point or up to the present time

From this reading The Gallops were worse than Ralph had hitherto seen them.

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

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

-ing form of “hurtle” — move with or as if with a rushing sound

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

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

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

inflected form of “lie” — be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

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

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

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

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

not any; not one

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

a vague idea in which some confidence is placed

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

in a powerful manner

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

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

From this reading The Gallops were worse than Ralph had hitherto seen them.

plural of “rapid” — a part of a river where the current is very fast

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The Gallops were worse than Ralph had hitherto seen them.

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

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

hurl as if with a sling

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

pass through the esophagus as part of eating or drinking

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

-ing form of “swirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

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

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The Gallops were worse than Ralph had hitherto seen them.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

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

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

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

From this reading In going up the river to the town that afternoon their course had lain on the Canadian side, for it was impossible for any craft to ascend the rapids, no matter how powerfully engined.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

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

From this reading As Malvin had said, the river was lower by a foot or more than it had been earlier in the summer.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading The Gallops were worse than Ralph had hitherto seen them.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.

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

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

a feeling of extreme emotional intensity

From this reading Therefore, Ralph had had no previous notion of the wildness of the waters which were now hurtling the _River Swallow_ forward like a stone out of a sling.

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading The Gallops were worse than Ralph had hitherto seen them.

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

From this reading Had he known what effect the drop in the river would have had upon the swirling waters, it is likely that he would have taken to the Canadian side on the return trip.