used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A MISHAP.
from one side of something to the other
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
experiencing a sudden sense of danger
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
boundariesnounUS /ˈbaʊndəriz/
plural of “boundary” — the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
canoenounUS /kəˈnuː/
small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
ClarknounUS /klɑːrk/
United States explorer who (with Meriwether Lewis) led an expedition from St. Louis to the mouth of the Columbia River; Clark was responsible for making maps of the area (1770-1838)
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
comparativelyadverbUS /kəmˈperətɪvli/
in a relative manner; by comparison to something else
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
creeknounUS /kriːk/
a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
eggnounUS /eɡ/
animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
having dropped by the force of gravity
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
assemble or get together
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
where you live at a particular time
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
increasingadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈkriːsɪŋ/
becoming greater or larger
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
LindennounUS /ˈlɪndən/
soft light-colored wood of any of various linden trees; used in making crates and boxes and in carving and millwork
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
MISHAPnounUS /ˈmɪshæp/
an unpredictable outcome that is unfortunate
From this reading A MISHAP.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
obstaclenounUS /ˈɑːbstəkəl/
something immaterial that stands in the way and must be circumvented or surmounted
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
and nothing more
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
overflowedverbUS /ˌoʊvərˈfloʊd/
past form of “overflow” — flow or run over (a limit or brim)
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
paddledverbUS /ˈpædəld/
past form of “paddle” — propel with a paddle
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
a course of conduct
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
rapiditynounUS /rəˈpɪdəti/
a rate that is rapid
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
rushingnounUS /ˈrʌʃɪŋ/
(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
only a very short time before
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
shallowadjectiveUS /ˈʃæloʊ/
lacking physical depth; having little spatial extension downward or inward from an outer surface or backward or outward from a center
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
shellnounUS /ʃel/
ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
sinuosities
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
possessing sweep
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
TerrynounUS /ˈteri/
English actress (1847-1928)
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
bound or secured closely
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
torrentnounUS /ˈtɔːrənt/
a heavy rain
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading The sinuosities of the creek had caused it to gather in a large part of the rain that had fallen some miles away, and its usual boundaries were overflowed.
the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
(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 It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
at the time that
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Fred Linden and Terry Clark were alarmed when, on their way home, they came to the creek across which they had paddled only a short time before.
belonging to which person
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was then the comparatively shallow stream that was scarcely an obstacle in their path; now it was a rushing torrent, whose volume was increasing with great rapidity.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading It was well that Fred had tied his canoe to the tree that was quite a distance from the stream, for had he not done so it would have been swept away like an egg shell.
