used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A NAVAL INITIATION.
affordedverbUS /əˈfɔːrdəd/
past form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
any thing at all
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
artauxiliary verbUS /ɑːrt/
an old form of “are”, used with “thou”
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
the two together, not just one
From this reading Both the Dreadnought Boys were good swimmers.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading Both the Dreadnought Boys were good swimmers.
inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
clungverbUS /klʌŋ/
inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
divedverbUS /daɪvd/
past form of “dive” — drop steeply
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
DreadnoughtnounUS /ˈdrednɔːt/
battleship that has big guns all of the same caliber
From this reading Both the Dreadnought Boys were good swimmers.
drilledadjectiveUS /drɪld/
trained in a skill by repetitious practice
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
else
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
divisible by two
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
experiencesnounUS /ɪkˈspɪriənsɪz/
plural of “experience” — the accumulation of knowledge or skill that results from direct participation in events or activities
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading Both the Dreadnought Boys were good swimmers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
an instinctive motive
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
INITIATIONnounUS /ˌɪnɪʃiˈeɪʃən/
a formal entry into an organization or position or office
From this reading A NAVAL INITIATION.
laddernounUS /ˈlædər/
steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
NAVALadjectiveUS /ˈneɪvəl/
connected with or belonging to or used in a navy
From this reading A NAVAL INITIATION.
Ned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
out-board
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
poolnounUS /puːl/
an excavation that is (usually) filled with water
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
projectionnounUS /prəˈdʒekʃən/
a prediction made by extrapolating from past observations
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
resounded
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
an educational institution
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
seacock
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
transport commercially
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
snakingverbUS /ˈsneɪkɪŋ/
-ing form of “snake” — move smoothly and sinuously, like a snake
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
splashesnounUS /ˈsplæʃɪz/
plural of “splash” — the sound like water splashing
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
strokesnounUS /stroʊks/
plural of “stroke” — (sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
swimmersnounUS /ˈswɪmərz/
plural of “swimmer” — a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading Both the Dreadnought Boys were good swimmers.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Both the Dreadnought Boys were good swimmers.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
up to a particular time
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
trainingnounUS /ˈtreɪnɪŋ/
activity leading to skilled behavior
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading Ned had dived after his chum as a matter of impulse, more than anything else, and, a second after the two splashes had resounded, both boys appeared on the surface of the water.
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 Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Both the Dreadnought Boys were good swimmers.
in or at the place that
From this reading A few strokes brought them to the side of the ship, where they clung to the slight projection afforded by an out-board seacock, till a ladder came snaking down to them.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Even if they had not been drilled in this art at the training school, their experiences in the old swimming pool at home would have made them at home in the water.
