used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us.
aboveprepositionUS /əˈbʌv/
higher than, or over, something
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
(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 We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
any thing at all
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
couldn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
ducksnounUS /dʌks/
plural of “duck” — small wild or domesticated web-footed broad-billed swimming bird usually having a depressed body and short legs
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
Dutchy
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
EdnounUS /ed/
impotence resulting from a man's inability to have or maintain an erection of his penis
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
apart from; not including
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
expertadjectiveUS /ˈekspərt/
having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
something regarded with special favor or liking
From this reading Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
lagoonnounUS /ləˈɡuːn/
a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land
From this reading Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us.
prefer or wish to do something
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
overhungverbUS /oʊvərˈhʌŋ/
inflected form of “overhang” — project over
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
paddleverbUS /ˈpædəl/
propel with a paddle
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us.
PlacidadjectiveUS /ˈplæsəd/
(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves
From this reading Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us.
plungeverbUS /plʌndʒ/
thrust or throw into
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
in the near future
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
springboardnounUS /ˈsprɪŋbɔːrd/
a flexible board for jumping upward
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
swimmernounUS /ˈswɪmər/
a trained athlete who participates in swimming meets
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
SWIMMINGnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading SWIMMING.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
inflected form of “take” — carry out
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt
From this reading However, Uncle Ed was an expert, and he took Dutchy in hand and soon made a pretty good swimmer out of him.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us.
employed in accomplishing something
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Lake Placid was a favorite swimming place for us.
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 We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
structure consisting of a sloping way down to the water from the place where ships are built or repaired
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading We used to plunge in from the branches of a tree which overhung the water a little ways above the lagoon and made a natural springboard.
which person or people
From this reading We could all swim like ducks, except Dutchy, who couldn't do anything but paddle.
