used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
weapons considered collectively
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
bandagenounUS /ˈbændɪdʒ/
a piece of soft material that covers and protects an injured part of the body
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
completely unclothed
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
the act of breaking something
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
captorsnounUS /ˈkæptərz/
plural of “captor” — a person who captures and holds people or animals
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
CHANGESnounUS /ˈtʃeɪndʒəz/
plural of “change” — an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
chatteringnounUS /ˈtʃætərɪŋ/
the rapid series of noises made by the parts of a machine
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
absence of light or illumination
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
diminishingadjectiveUS /dɪˈmɪnɪʃɪŋ/
becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
fistnounUS /fɪst/
a hand with the fingers clenched in the palm (as for hitting)
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
gaspingverbUS /ˈɡæspɪŋ/
-ing form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
past form of “happen” — come to pass
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
icyadjectiveUS /ˈaɪsi/
devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
impotentlyadverb
in a helpless manner
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
the sound of laughing
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
and nothing more
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
ontoprepositionUS /ˈɑːntuː/
moving to a position on a surface
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
a course of conduct
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
pebblesnounUS /ˈpebəlz/
plural of “pebble” — a small smooth rounded rock
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
pebblyadjective
abounding in small stones
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
ripplesnounUS /ˈrɪpəlz/
plural of “ripple” — a small wave on the surface of a liquid
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
roarsnounUS /rɔːrz/
plural of “roar” — a deep prolonged loud noise
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
ROY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
scantadjectiveUS /skænt/
less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
an educational institution
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
scrambledadjectiveUS /ˈskræmbəld/
thrown together in a disorderly fashion
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
(of something seen or heard) clearly defined
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
shiveringnounUS /ˈʃɪvərɪŋ/
a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
a disassembled barrel; the parts packed for storage or shipment
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
sputteringnounUS /ˈspʌtərɪŋ/
the noise of something spattering or sputtering explosively
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
having a supporting base
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
stumbledverbUS /ˈstʌmbəld/
past form of “stumble” — walk unsteadily
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
in or at that place or location
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
thighsnounUS /θaɪz/
plural of “thigh” — the part of the leg between the hip and the knee
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
thrashedverbUS /θræʃt/
past form of “thrash” — give a thrashing to; beat hard
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
having edges that are jagged from injury
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
know and comprehend the nature or meaning of
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading From the bank, only a few feet away, came roars of laughter, diminishing as his captors, having drawn the boat up onto the little pebbly beach, stumbled up the path toward the school.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
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 And Roy, shivering and chattering, stood there in a scant three feet of icy water and impotently shook his fist in the darkness!
used to ask for information about something
From this reading At first, as he scrambled with his bare feet over the sharp pebbles to the shore, he could not understand what had happened.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading ROY CHANGES HIS MIND For an instant his arms thrashed wildly.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Then he was standing, gasping and sputtering, with the bandage torn away and the ripples breaking against his thighs!
