used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
a vaguely specified concern
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
afterprepositionUS /ˈæftər/
later than; following
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He darted to the bow, where Bluff and Will were already hanging.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
backingnounUS /ˈbækɪŋ/
the act of providing approval and support
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
BluffnounUS /blʌf/
a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)
From this reading He darted to the bow, where Bluff and Will were already hanging.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
bobbed
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading He darted to the bow, where Bluff and Will were already hanging.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
CAMPFIREnounUS /ˈkæmpfaɪər/
a small outdoor fire for warmth or cooking (as at a camp)
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
concussionnounUS /kənˈkʌʃən/
injury to the brain caused by a blow; usually resulting in loss of consciousness
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
damagenounUS /ˈdæmədʒ/
the occurrence of a change for the worse
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
dartedverbUS /ˈdɑːrtɪd/
past form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
From this reading He darted to the bow, where Bluff and Will were already hanging.
having made preparations
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
having finished or arrived at completion
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
FIRSTadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
past form of “gasp” — breathe noisily, as when one is exhausted
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window
From this reading He darted to the bow, where Bluff and Will were already hanging.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
industriouslyadverb
in an industrious manner
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
JerrynounUS /ˈdʒeri/
offensive term for a person of German descent
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
jokingadjectiveUS /ˈdʒoʊkɪŋ/
characterized by jokes and good humor
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
and nothing more
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
engage in
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
not any; not one
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
picnicnounUS /ˈpɪknɪk/
a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
smoothlyadverbUS /ˈsmuːðli/
with no problems or difficulties
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
make steady
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
possessing sweep
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
swimmernounUS /ˈswɪmər/
a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
express in words
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
usualadjectiveUS /ˈjuːʒəwəl/
occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
how something is done or how it happens
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading He darted to the bow, where Bluff and Will were already hanging.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
in or at the place that
From this reading He darted to the bow, where Bluff and Will were already hanging.
which person or people
From this reading "What was it?" called the swimmer, who, now that he was in, seemed disposed to make a picnic of the affair, after his usual joking way.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was swimming industriously to keep from being swept down with the current.
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Frank, finding that the motor worked smoothly, and no damage had been done by the concussion, started it backing just enough to keep the boat steady.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading THE FIRST CAMPFIRE "Tell me about that, will you!" gasped Jerry, as he bobbed above the surface.
