used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
anklesnounUS /ˈæŋkəlz/
plural of “ankle” — a gliding joint between the distal ends of the tibia and fibula and the proximal end of the talus
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At the next step he went to his waist, and fell with a splash.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
despairingadjectiveUS /dɪˈsperɪŋ/
arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
desperationnounUS /ˌdespərˈeɪʃən/
a state in which all hope is lost or absent
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
drowningverbUS /ˈdraʊnɪŋ/
-ing form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow
From this reading At the next step he went to his waist, and fell with a splash.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
fortunatelyadverbUS /ˈfɔːrtʃənətli/
by good fortune
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
not solid; having a space or gap or cavity
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
I'm
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
engage in
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
McGovern
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
a particular point in time
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading At the next step he went to his waist, and fell with a splash.
not any; not one
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
onwardadverbUS /ˈɔːnwərd/
forward in time or order or degree
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
overpoweringadjectiveUS /ˈoʊvərˈpaʊrɪŋ/
so strong as to be irresistible
From this reading The roar was overpowering.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
gradual improvement or growth or development
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles
From this reading The roar was overpowering.
Identical; not different.
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
splashverbUS /splæʃ/
cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force
From this reading At the next step he went to his waist, and fell with a splash.
any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal
From this reading At the next step he went to his waist, and fell with a splash.
not in physical motion
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
struggledverbUS /ˈstrʌɡəld/
past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
possessing sweep
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
having come into contact
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips
From this reading At the next step he went to his waist, and fell with a splash.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
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 A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading At the next step he went to his waist, and fell with a splash.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading “I’m drowning!” he gasped; but fortunately for him he had plunged into a small hollow, out of which he was swept the next moment, and, with no effort on his part, flung upon his feet.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was still able to make progress, and with the same despairing desperation as before, struggled onward.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading A CRY FROM THE DARKNESS Within a few seconds after McGovern felt the water about his ankles it touched his knees.
