used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
AfterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
a youthful male person
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
chumnounUS /tʃʌm/
a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
divedverbUS /daɪvd/
past form of “dive” — drop steeply
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
endlessadjectiveUS /ˈendləs/
tiresomely long; seemingly without end
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
set up or found
From this reading He had found Steve, the latter unconscious.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
grippingadjectiveUS /ˈɡrɪpɪŋ/
capable of arousing and holding the attention
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had found Steve, the latter unconscious.
half-drowned
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had found Steve, the latter unconscious.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
hesitationnounUS /ˌhezəˈteɪʃən/
indecision in speech or action
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
instant's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was Jarvis paddling toward the raft.
Jarvis
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was Jarvis paddling toward the raft.
and nothing more
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
LADDERSnounUS /ˈlædərz/
plural of “ladder” — steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)
From this reading He had found Steve, the latter unconscious.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
paddlingverbUS /ˈpædəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “paddle” — propel with a paddle
From this reading It was Jarvis paddling toward the raft.
plankverbUS /plæŋk/
cover with planks
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
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 It was Jarvis paddling toward the raft.
past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
inflected form of “slip” — move stealthily
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
splashingnounUS /ˈsplæʃɪŋ/
the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
Steve
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had found Steve, the latter unconscious.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading It was Jarvis paddling toward the raft.
not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead
From this reading He had found Steve, the latter unconscious.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was Jarvis paddling toward the raft.
watchersnounUS /ˈwɑːtʃərz/
plural of “watcher” — a close observer; someone who looks at something (such as an exhibition of some kind)
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on 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 A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading A THOUSAND FEET OF LADDERS After what seemed an endless wait, the watchers heard a great splashing far out on the water.
at the time that
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading Just as Bob reached the plank on which the other boy was hanging Steve slipped off into the water.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading Bob dived for his chum without an instant's hesitation and when he came up he was gripping the half-drowned Steve.
