used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
any thing at all
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
botherverbUS /ˈbɑːðər/
take the trouble to do something; concern oneself
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
a youthful male person
From this reading For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun.
eat an early morning meal
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
casualadjectiveUS /ˈkæʒəwəl/
marked by blithe unconcern
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
collectedadjectiveUS /kəˈlektəd/
brought together in one place
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
the first light of day
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
DerelictadjectiveUS /ˈderəlɪkt/
worn and broken down by hard use
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
didn't
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
dipverbUS /dɪp/
immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
every one of two or more people or things, taken separately
From this reading For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun.
firstadjectiveUS /fɜːrst/
preceding all others in time or space or degree
From this reading For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun.
flippersnounUS /ˈflɪpərz/
plural of “flipper” — a shoe for swimming; the paddle-like front is an aid in swimming (especially underwater)
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)
From this reading For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun.
of great significance or value
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
in place of, or as an alternative to
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
lungsnounUS /lʌŋz/
plural of “lung” — either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
masksnounUS /mæsks/
plural of “mask” — a covering to disguise or conceal the face
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
the time period between dawn and noon
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
immediately following in time or order
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
preliminaryadjectiveUS /prɪˈlɪməneri/
denoting an action or event preceding or in preparation for something more important
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
prosaicadjectiveUS /proʊˈzeɪɪk/
not fanciful or imaginative
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
RicknounUS /rɪk/
a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
Scotty
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
selectedadjectiveUS /səˈlektɪd/
chosen in preference to another
From this reading For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun.
snorkels
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Instead, they collected masks, snorkels, and flippers for a preliminary dip.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
spearnounUS /spɪr/
a long pointed rod used as a tool or weapon
From this reading For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun.
swimmingnounUS /ˈswɪmɪŋ/
the act of swimming
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading For this first swim, each boy selected a spear gun.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
the act of using
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading The Derelict Rick and Scotty were up at dawn the next morning.
in the company of; together with
From this reading They didn't bother with anything so prosaic as breakfast.
exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity
From this reading They didn't use the lungs; those were to be saved for more important work than casual swimming.
