used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
backwardsadverbUS /ˈbækwərdz/
at or to or toward the back or rear
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
Baxter
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
in the space, time, or range separating two things
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
the two together, not just one
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
Can't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
a flow of electricity through a conductor
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
Dan
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
either extremity of something that has length
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
every person
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
factionsnounUS /ˈfækʃənz/
plural of “faction” — a clique (often secret) that seeks power usually through intrigue
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading "We must get out somehow!"
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
houseboatnounUS /ˈhaʊsboʊt/
a barge that is designed and equipped for use as a dwelling
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
and nothing more
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
launchverbUS /lɔːntʃ/
set up or found
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
engage in
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
used to say something is possible but not certain
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
a particular point in time
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true
From this reading "We must get out somehow!"
absolutely essential
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
SacknounUS /sæk/
a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
smash-upnoun
a serious collision (especially of motor vehicles)
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
SNAGverbUS /snæɡ/
catch on a snag
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means
From this reading "We must get out somehow!"
past form of “start” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
caught or fixed
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
swiftly-flowing
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
in or at that place or location
From this reading A smash-up out there in that swiftly-flowing current might make it necessary for everybody to swim for his life.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
ToddnounUS /tɑːd/
Scottish chemist noted for his research into the structure of nucleic acids (born in 1907)
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading STUCK ON A SNAG It was certainly a moment of intense anxiety, both for those on the launch and on the houseboat, and for the time being the fight between the two factions came to an end.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading "We must get out somehow!"
past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading Dan Baxter worked over the motor for a few seconds, and just as the houseboat swung closer started the launch backwards.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading "Can't you back the boat?" asked Sack Todd of Dan Baxter.
