Chapter IX · Chapter 9

used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

a component that is added to something to improve it

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

-ing form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

for the reason that

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

make a resonant sound, like artillery

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

the lower side of anything

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

an eye disease that involves the clouding or opacification of the natural lens of the eye

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

a deep opening in the earth's surface

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

not characterized by emotion

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

uninterrupted connection or union

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

plural of “crag” — a steep rugged rock or cliff

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

a downward slope or bend

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

the extent downward or backward or inward

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

third-person singular of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

(Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

become weaker

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

twice as great or many

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

let fall to the ground

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

the act of consuming food

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

more than is needed, desired, or required

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

overeat or eat immodestly; make a pig of oneself

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

of behavior that is impressive and ambitious in scale or scope

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

inside something, or within a place, period, or state

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

the amount of energy transmitted (as by acoustic or electromagnetic radiation)

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

make sense of; assign a meaning to

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

set down according to a plan

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

immediately past

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

in order that something should not happen

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

straightened out

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

the common people generally

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

plural of “mooring” — a place where a craft can be made fast

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

past form of “name” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

owed as a debt

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

with undue hurry and confusion

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

-ing form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

the state of having little or no money and few or no material possessions

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

at an earlier time or formerly

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

plural of “rain” — water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

done or occurring in a brief period of time

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

with speed

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

plural of “ration” — the food allowance for one day (especially for service personnel)

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

inflected form of “sap” — deplete

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

a sensation of cold that often marks the start of an infection and the development of a fever

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

sweep across or over

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

past form of “swirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.

a word or expression used for some particular thing

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

the starting point for a new state or experience

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

up to a particular time

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

a localized and violently destructive windstorm occurring over land characterized by a funnel-shaped cloud extending toward the ground

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

distance travelled per unit time

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

the amount of 3-dimensional space occupied by an object

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

look attentively

From this reading We were obliged to be on the watch lest the moorings of the boats should be loosened, allowing them to sweep pell-mell before us down the gorge.

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 We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The addition of the almost equal volume of the Grand--indeed it was now a little greater owing to extra heavy rains along its course--doubled the depth and velocity of the river till it swirled on into the new canyon before us with a fierce, threatening intensity, sapping the flat sand-bank on which our camp was laid and rapidly eating it away.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading We were on the threshold of what the Major had previously named Cataract Canyon, because the declivity within it is so great and the water descends with such tremendous velocity and continuity that he thought the term rapid failed to interpret the conditions.

a place or scene of great or strange beauty or wonder

From this reading A Wonderland of Crags and Pinnacles--Poverty Rations--Fast and Furious Plunging Waters--Boulders Boom along the Bottom--Chilly Days and Shivering--A Wild Tumultuous Chasm--A Bad Passage by Twilight and a Tornado with a Picture Moonrise--Out of one Canyon into Another--At the Mouth of the Dirty Devil at Last.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Large masses with a sudden splash would drop out of sight and dissolve like sugar in a cup of tea.