used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading GRANTLEY TAKES A SWIM.
(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
automaticadjectiveUS /ˌɔːtəˈmætɪk/
operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
barge's
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
behindprepositionUS /bɪˈhaɪnd/
at or toward the back of something
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
bottledverbUS /ˈbɑːtəld/
past form of “bottle” — store (liquids or gases) in bottles
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
bulletnounUS /ˈbʊlət/
a projectile that is fired from a gun
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
Chick'snounUS /tʃɪks/
possessive form of “chick” — young bird especially of domestic fowl
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
companionwaynounUS /kəmˈpænjənweɪ/
a stairway or ladder that leads from one deck to another on a ship
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
utter a sudden loud cry
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
detectivesnounUS /dɪˈtektɪvz/
plural of “detective” — a police officer who investigates crimes
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
effectuallyadverb
in an effectual manner
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
divisible by two
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
inflected form of “forget” — dismiss from the mind; stop remembering
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
GRANTLEY
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading GRANTLEY TAKES A SWIM.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
headforemost
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
hidingnounUS /ˈhaɪdɪŋ/
the activity of keeping something secret
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
diode such that light emitted at a p-n junction is proportional to the bias current; color depends on the material used
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
produced by a manufacturing process
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
the force of policemen and officers
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
established beyond doubt
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
railnounUS /reɪl/
a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
reach a destination, either real or abstract
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
(military) withdrawal of troops to a more favorable position to escape the enemy's superior forces or after a defeat
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
lift onto one's shoulders
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
Siebold
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
a flight of stairs or a flight of steps
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
sternadjectiveUS /stɜːrn/
of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
(physics) deformation of a physical body under the action of applied forces
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
stuffyadjectiveUS /ˈstʌfi/
lacking fresh air
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
of the kind already mentioned
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
sunkenadjectiveUS /ˈsʌŋkən/
having a sunken area
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
surgeonnounUS /ˈsɜːrdʒən/
a physician who specializes in surgery
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
SWIMverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading GRANTLEY TAKES A SWIM.
plural of “take” — the income or profit arising from such transactions as the sale of land or other property
From this reading GRANTLEY TAKES A SWIM.
an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
in or at that place or location
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
inflected form of “throw” — propel through the air
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
towardprepositionUS /təˈwɔːrd/
in the direction of
From this reading With a cry of fear, he threw himself headforemost toward the sunken doorway of the cabin, but a bullet from Chick’s automatic caught him in the shoulder before he disappeared.
unreasoningadjectiveUS /ənˈriːznɪŋ/
not based on reason or evidence
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
at the time that
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
which person or people
From this reading The strain had already proved a little too much for Siebold, who was not made of such stern stuff as Grantley.
including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
wildlyadverbUS /ˈwaɪldli/
to an extreme or greatly exaggerated degree
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was close to the little companionway which led down a few steps into the barge’s stuffy cabin, and in his unreasoning terror he forgot that he would be bottled up effectually there, even if he should be able to reach that retreat with a whole skin.
used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father
From this reading When the detectives dropped down behind the rail of the police craft the younger surgeon looked about him wildly for a hiding place.
