used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
filled with fear or apprehension
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
touching and pressing; in opposition to
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
with anxiety or apprehension
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
weapons considered collectively
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
a mountain or tall hill
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
on the far side of; further than
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
definite but not specified or identified
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
exertionsnounUS /ɪɡˈzɜːrʃənz/
plural of “exertion” — use of physical or mental energy; hard work
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
opinion or judgment
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
marked by extreme and violent energy
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
forebodingnounUS /fɔːrˈboʊdɪŋ/
a feeling of evil to come
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
glarenounUS /ɡler/
a light within the field of vision that is brighter than the brightness to which the eyes are adapted
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
glisteningadjectiveUS /ˈɡlɪsənɪŋ/
reflecting light
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
the line at which the sky and Earth appear to meet
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
irregularadjectiveUS /ˌɪˈreɡjələr/
contrary to rule or accepted order or general practice
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
of or relating to two people who are married to each other
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
a formation of people or things one beside another
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
strongly marked; easily noticeable
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
not one, and not any
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
pantingnounUS /ˈpæntɪŋ/
breathing heavily (as after exertion)
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
in the near future
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
raftnounUS /ræft/
a flat float (usually made of logs or planks) that can be used for transport or as a platform for swimmers
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
reefnounUS /riːf/
a submerged ridge of rock or coral near the surface of the water
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
searchedverbUS /sɜːrtʃt/
past form of “search” — try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
seawardadjectiveUS /ˈsiːwərd/
(of winds) coming from the land
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
shadingnounUS /ˈʃeɪdɪŋ/
graded markings that indicate light or shaded areas in a drawing or painting
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
plural of “sister” — a female person who has the same parents as another person
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
sun'snounUS /sʌnz/
possessive form of “sun” — the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
used when the people doing the action are also its object
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
Tommy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading But presently Tommy sprang up, and, shading her eyes against the sun's fierce glare, looked long and anxiously seaward.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
articulate; either verbally or with a cry, shout, or noise
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading None of them spoke: each was afraid to utter her foreboding thought.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading THE ISLAND BEAUTIFUL Hot and panting from their exertions, the girls threw themselves down on the sand, and for a time remembered nothing but their escape from what had seemed certain death.
a Caucasian
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Her sisters joined her, and, with their arms clasped about each other, they searched the horizon for the raft and Uncle Ben.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading An irregular white line marked the reef, but beyond that the ocean stretched out into the distance, without a spot upon its glistening surface.
