used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
the supreme effort one can make
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
bindverbUS /baɪnd/
stick to firmly
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
canvasnounUS /ˈkænvəs/
a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground
From this reading They hastened with the work, for the water crept higher and higher.
separate with or as if with an instrument
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
recognizable; marked
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
posing no difficulty; requiring little effort
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading They hastened with the work, for the water crept higher and higher.
plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
past form of “hasten” — act or move at high speed
From this reading They hastened with the work, for the water crept higher and higher.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
advanced in complexity or elaboration
From this reading They hastened with the work, for the water crept higher and higher.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
laboredadjectiveUS /ˈleɪbərd/
lacking natural ease
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
logsnounUS /lɔːɡz/
plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
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 There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
the force of workers available
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
a form of address for a man
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
necessary for relief or supply
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
not one thing; not anything
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
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 THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
Ringold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
ropesnounUS /roʊps/
plural of “rope” — a strong line
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
sheltersnounUS /ˈʃeltərz/
plural of “shelter” — a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
skillfuladjectiveUS /ˈskɪlfəl/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
in or at that place or location
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
consistent with fact or reality; not false
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading There were some tent ropes, but they were needed to keep up the canvas shelters as long as possible.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading THE GOVERNMENT BOAT But building a raft was not an easy matter.
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 They hastened with the work, for the water crept higher and higher.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
We'll
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "We'll do the best we can, though," decided Mr. Ringold, as he and the men and boys labored at the raft.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
in the company of; together with
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
woodsmennounUS /ˈwʊdzmən/
plural of “woodsman” — someone who lives in the woods
From this reading True, the trees could be cut down, but our friends were not skillful woodsmen, and there was nothing with which to bind the logs together.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They hastened with the work, for the water crept higher and higher.
