used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
at or in the front
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
in addition
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
cause to move by pulling
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
characterized by a firm and humorless belief in the validity of your opinions
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
effectsnounUS /ɪˈfekts/
property of a personal character that is portable but not used in business
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
elementnounUS /ˈeləmənt/
an abstract part of something
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
exhilaratingadjectiveUS /ɪɡˈzɪləreɪtɪŋ/
making lively and cheerful
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
to a considerable degree; very much
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
more distant in especially space or time
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
mat together and make felt-like
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
Fred
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
handledadjectiveUS /ˈhændəld/
having a usually specified type of handle
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
headedadjectiveUS /ˈhedəd/
having a heading or course in a certain direction
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
invisibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈvɪzəbəl/
impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
United States filmmaker whose works explore the richness of black culture in America (born in 1957)
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
Lester
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
lighthousenounUS /ˈlaɪthaʊs/
a tower with a light that gives warning of shoals to passing ships
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
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 RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
motornounUS /ˈmoʊtər/
machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
oarsnounUS /ɔːrz/
plural of “oar” — an implement used to propel or steer a boat
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
occupantsnounUS /ˈɑːkjəpənts/
plural of “occupant” — someone who lives at a particular place for a prolonged period or who was born there
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
propelledverbUS /prəˈpeld/
inflected form of “propel” — cause to move forward with force
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
rollersnounUS /ˈroʊlərz/
plural of “roller” — a grounder that rolls along the infield
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
saferadjectiveUS /ˈseɪfər/
comparative of “safe” — free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
hit with a missile from a weapon
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
skilledadjectiveUS /skɪld/
having or showing or requiring special skill
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
uttered through the medium of speech or characterized by speech; sometimes used in combination
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
not in physical motion
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
behave violently, as if in state of a great anger
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
having strength or power greater than average or expected
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
SURFnounUS /sɜːrf/
waves breaking on the shore
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
in spite of the fact that
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading As they got farther out from under the lee of the lighthouse rocks, however, they felt the force of the waves more and more, and Lester had to draw on all his knowledge to keep the boat headed before the big rollers.
precisely as stated
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
watermannounUS /ˈwɔːtərmən/
someone who drives or rides in a boat
From this reading Lester, however, handled the oars like the skilled waterman he was, and Fred was not far behind him, so that the occupants of the boat felt that they could not be in safer hands.
one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
whileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure
From this reading Although the wind had died down, the waves were still running high from the effects of the storm.
the words that are spoken
From this reading RIDING THE SURF The words were spoken in jest, but they bade fair before long to turn to earnest.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading As one wave followed another, it would shoot the boat ahead as though propelled by some invisible motor, and while this was very exhilarating, it also had a strong element of danger.
