used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
alongprepositionUS /əˈlɔːŋ/
following the length of something from one end toward the other
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading AN EXCITING CHASE.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
one more of the same kind, or a different one
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
plural of “boy” — a youthful male person
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But the hermit solved the problem.
go after with the intent to catch
From this reading AN EXCITING CHASE.
move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
the skilled practice of a practical occupation
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
cause to herd, drive, or crowd together
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
EXCITINGadjectiveUS /ɪkˈsaɪtɪŋ/
creating or arousing excitement
From this reading AN EXCITING CHASE.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
come into the possession of something concrete or abstract
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
hermitnounUS /ˈhɜːrmət/
one retired from society for religious reasons
From this reading But the hermit solved the problem.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
mainlandnounUS /ˈmeɪnlænd/
the main land mass of a country or continent; as distinguished from an island or peninsula
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
a particular point in time
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
not any; not one
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
PetersnounUS /ˈpiːtərz/
plural of “peter” — disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
a state of difficulty that needs to be resolved
From this reading But the hermit solved the problem.
challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
row-boat
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
SinounUS /siː/
a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
solvedadjectiveUS /sɑːlvd/
explained or answered
From this reading But the hermit solved the problem.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
carry out
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
disclosing unintentionally something concealed
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
in or at that place or location
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
undertakingnounUS /ˈʌndərteɪkɪŋ/
any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading For the moment the boys did not know what to do.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Si Peters and his crowd had run off with their row-boat, and how to get to the mainland was a serious question.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading To swim the distance would be a dangerous undertaking, and there was no telling how long it would be before another craft should come along to take them off.
