used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
alertadjectiveUS /əˈlɜːrt/
engaged in or accustomed to close observation
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading The water that could be seen from the entrance was clear.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
bubblesnounUS /ˈbʌbəlz/
plural of “bubble” — a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)
From this reading There was only the sound of their bubbles.
rid of obstructions
From this reading The water that could be seen from the entrance was clear.
at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other
From this reading Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading The water that could be seen from the entrance was clear.
plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
an opposing military force
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
something that provides access (to get in or get out)
From this reading The water that could be seen from the entrance was clear.
be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
frogmennounUS /ˈfrɑːɡmɪn/
plural of “frogman” — someone who works underwater
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading The water that could be seen from the entrance was clear.
change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
a specific instance of feeling hopeful
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
engage in
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
and nothing more
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
an open or empty space in or between things
From this reading Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out.
peeredverbUS /pɪrd/
past form of “peer” — look searchingly
From this reading Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out.
compacted by ironing
From this reading Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out.
accomplished rapidly and without delay
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
RicknounUS /rɪk/
a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (“rick” and “wrick” are British)
From this reading Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out.
inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight
From this reading The water that could be seen from the entrance was clear.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
surveynounUS /sərˈveɪ/
a detailed critical inspection
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
express in words
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
tenselyadverbUS /ˈtensli/
in a tense manner
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There was only the sound of their bubbles.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Rick pressed close to the opening and peered out.
past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading There was only the sound of their bubbles.
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 The water that could be seen from the entrance was clear.
whereaboutsnounUS /ˈwerəbaʊts/
the general location where something is
From this reading The boys waited tensely, ears alert for any sound that would tell them the whereabouts of their enemy.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
wrecknounUS /rek/
something or someone that has suffered ruin or dilapidation
From this reading The Fight on the "Maiden Hand" They had only one hope now--that the frogmen would make a quick survey of the wreck, then go away.
