used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
avertedverbUS /əˈvɜːrtɪd/
past form of “avert” — prevent the occurrence of; prevent from happening
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
boomingadjectiveUS /ˈbuːmɪŋ/
very lively and profitable
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances
From this reading At the time, Chet and Joe could see no possible chance of escape.
Chet
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the time, Chet and Joe could see no possible chance of escape.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
collisionnounUS /kəˈlɪʒən/
(physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
coolnessnounUS /ˈkuːlnəs/
calm and unruffled self-assurance
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading How he did it, he could not later explain.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
crashverbUS /kræʃ/
fall or come down violently
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading How he did it, he could not later explain.
disastrousadjectiveUS /dɪˈzæstrəs/
(of events) having extremely unfortunate or dire consequences; bringing ruin
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
the act of escaping physically
From this reading At the time, Chet and Joe could see no possible chance of escape.
make plain and comprehensible
From this reading How he did it, he could not later explain.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
Hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
hairbreadth
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
Hardy'snounUS /ˈhɑːrdiz/
possessive form of “hardy” — United States slapstick comedian who played the pompous and overbearing member of the Laurel and Hardy duo who made many films (1892-1957)
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading How he did it, he could not later explain.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
How
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading How he did it, he could not later explain.
ice-boats
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
imminentadjectiveUS /ˈɪmənənt/
close in time; about to occur
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading At the time, Chet and Joe could see no possible chance of escape.
and nothing more
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading How he did it, he could not later explain.
The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
not any; not one
From this reading At the time, Chet and Joe could see no possible chance of escape.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
the time that has elapsed
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
capable of happening or existing
From this reading At the time, Chet and Joe could see no possible chance of escape.
the state of being present; current existence
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading At the time, Chet and Joe could see no possible chance of escape.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
move hurridly
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
terrificadjectiveUS /tərˈɪfɪk/
very great or intense
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
in or at that place or location
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
tillernounUS /ˈtɪlər/
a shoot that sprouts from the base of a grass
From this reading His quick hand at the tiller averted the crash by a hairbreadth.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading At the time, Chet and Joe could see no possible chance of escape.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
having come into contact
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
veeredverbUS /vɪrd/
past form of “veer” — turn sharply; change direction abruptly
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading But, just as the collision seemed imminent, their craft veered off to one side and the other boat went booming past at terrific speed, the two ice-boats so close together that their sides almost touched.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading Had it not been for Frank Hardy’s coolness and presence of mind, there would have been a disastrous collision.
