used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
an unfortunate mishap; especially one causing damage or injury
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
at or in the front
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
availverbUS /əˈveɪl/
use to one's advantage
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
Directly under; in or to a lower position than.
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
a youthful male person
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
From this reading It was impossible for them to check the speed of the boat and equally impossible to change its course.
checkverbUS /tʃek/
examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition
From this reading It was impossible for them to check the speed of the boat and equally impossible to change its course.
chipnounUS /tʃɪp/
a small fragment of something broken off from the whole
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
ColoradonounUS /ˌkɑːlərˈɑːdoʊ/
a state in west central United States in the Rocky Mountains
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
without deviation
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
disappearingnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrɪŋ/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
to the same degree (often followed by “as”)
From this reading It was impossible for them to check the speed of the boat and equally impossible to change its course.
expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
at or to or toward the front
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
headlongadverbUS /ˈhedlɔːŋ/
with the head foremost
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
lacking in or deprived of strength or power
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
intense and profound fear
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading It was impossible for them to check the speed of the boat and equally impossible to change its course.
a room or building equipped with one or more toilets
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
and nothing more
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
staying power
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
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 The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
used to say something is possible, or to give permission
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
in motion
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
Pete
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
retraceverbUS /riˈtreɪs/
to go back over again
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
rushingnounUS /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
cut with a saw
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
the land along the edge of a body of water
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
an ability that has been acquired by training
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
move hurridly
From this reading It was impossible for them to check the speed of the boat and equally impossible to change its course.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
moving very fast
From this reading Almost as helpless as if it had been a chip it was carried forward by the swift current.
in a swift manner
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
swimmernounUS /ˈswɪmər/
a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading It was impossible for them to check the speed of the boat and equally impossible to change its course.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
United States actress and singer (1896-1977)
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)
From this reading The horror of Fred and Pete when they saw the long legs of John just disappearing beneath the surface of the river may well be imagined.
at the time that
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
in the company of; together with
From this reading The boat was moving swiftly when he met with his accident and it was impossible for the Go Ahead Boy to retrace his course and swim directly toward the shore.
WRECKnounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading A WRECK John was an expert swimmer but his skill was not of much avail when he plunged headlong into the rushing waters of the Colorado.
