used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading A BRAVE STRUGGLE.
how long something has existed
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
have
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
the two together, not just one
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching
From this reading A BRAVE STRUGGLE.
a male with the same parents as someone else
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
an occurrence of something
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
coolnessnounUS /ˈkuːlnəs/
calm and unruffled self-assurance
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
dependedverbUS /dɪˈpendəd/
past form of “depend” — be contingent upon (something that is elided)
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
didauxiliary verbUS /dɪd/
the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
drownverbUS /draʊn/
cover completely or make imperceptible
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
all things; all of a situation
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
plural of “girl” — a young female
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
any place of complete bliss and delight and peace
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
instructionsnounUS /ˌɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/
a manual usually accompanying a technical device and explaining how to install or operate it
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
interfereverbUS /ˌɪntərˈfɪr/
come between so as to be hindrance or obstacle
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
has a good chance of being the case or of coming about
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
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 But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
fail to keep or to maintain; cease to have, either physically or in an abstract sense
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
inflected form of “meet” — come together
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
Nellie
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
past form of “obey” — be obedient to
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
ordealnounUS /ɔːrˈdiːl/
a severe or trying experience
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
situated in a particular spot or position
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
Ribsam
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
self-controlnounUS /ˌselfkənˈtroʊl/
the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
used to say what is right, expected, or advisable
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
marked by correspondence or resemblance
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
for that reason; with the result that
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
make a strenuous or labored effort
From this reading A BRAVE STRUGGLE.
swimverbUS /swɪm/
travel through water
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
tenthsnounUS /tenθs/
plural of “tenth” — a tenth part; one part in ten equal parts
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
hard to endure
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
underprepositionUS /ˈʌndər/
below or beneath something; less than
From this reading She could not swim a stroke, and, under heaven, everything depended on him.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
wereauxiliary verbUS /wɜːr/
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading But so long as she obeyed instructions, and the bear did not interfere, they were safe.
in the company of; together with
From this reading It was a trying ordeal for little Nellie Ribsam; but she met it with the courage and coolness of her brother.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading If she should lose her self-control, as would be the case with nine tenths of the girls of her age placed in a similar situation she was likely to drown both herself and her brother.
