used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
at or in the front
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
a small vessel for travel on water
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
move up and down repeatedly
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER “Dodged ’em!” exclaimed Bob.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
small room on a ship or boat where people sleep
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
cautiouslyadverbUS /ˈkɔːʃəsli/
as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
channelnounUS /ˈtʃænəl/
a path over which electrical signals can pass
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
dippingverbUS /ˈdɪpɪŋ/
inflected form of “dip” — immerse briefly into a liquid so as to wet, coat, or saturate
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
DodgedverbUS /dɑːdʒd/
past form of “dodge” — make a sudden movement in a new direction so as to avoid
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER “Dodged ’em!” exclaimed Bob.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER “Dodged ’em!” exclaimed Bob.
a quad with a square body
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER “Dodged ’em!” exclaimed Bob.
past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER “Dodged ’em!” exclaimed Bob.
deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
to certain extent or degree
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
destroyed or killed
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
perceive (sound) via the auditory sense
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
houseboatnounUS /ˈhaʊsboʊt/
a barge that is designed and equipped for use as a dwelling
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
Joe
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
mutterverbUS /ˈmʌtər/
talk indistinctly; usually in a low voice
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
new-comers
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
To move from a closed position.
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
not allowed to continue to bat or run
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
paddlesnounUS /ˈpædəlz/
plural of “paddle” — small wooden bat with a flat surface; used for hitting balls in various games
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
perceiveverbUS /pərˈsiːv/
to become aware of through the senses
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
give an exhibition of to an interested audience
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER “Dodged ’em!” exclaimed Bob.
screenedverbUS /skriːnd/
past form of “screen” — test or examine for the presence of disease or infection
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
an instance of visual perception
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
steering-oar
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
not in physical motion
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
successive (without a break)
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading DOWN THE RIVER “Dodged ’em!” exclaimed Bob.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
hard to endure
From this reading Joe stepped cautiously out of the cabin and seized the great steering-oar, trying to hold the houseboat straight down the channel.
plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech
From this reading They could still hear the dipping paddles, and a faint mutter of voices.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
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 But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But for the present the boys were screened from sight, and a stretch of fairly open water lay ahead.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading In another minute the new-comers would perceive that the big boat was gone.
