Chapter XII

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

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

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

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But India is really far older.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

one of the large landmasses of the earth

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

showing effects of planning or manipulation

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

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

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

past form of “exist” — have an existence, be extant

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading But India is really far older.

past form of “flow” — move or progress freely as if in a stream

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

an Asian river; rises in the Himalayas and flows east into the Bay of Bengal; a sacred river of the Hindus

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

a science that deals with the history of the earth as recorded in rocks

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

plural of “god” — the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

a mountain range extending 1500 miles on the border between India and Tibet; this range contains the world's highest mountain

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

northern region of India where Hinduism predominates

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

a sacred place of pilgrimage

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

long past; beyond the limits of memory or tradition or recorded history

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

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

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

a republic in the Asian subcontinent in southern Asia; second most populous country in the world; achieved independence from the United Kingdom in 1947

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

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

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

of or relating to two people who are married to each other

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

plural of “know” — the fact of being aware of information that is known to few people

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

being provided with adequate nourishment

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading But India is really far older.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

above and across; more than

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

a large mass of land projecting into a body of water

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

belonging to or existing in times before recorded history

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading But India is really far older.

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

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

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

an area that includes places where several people can sit

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

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

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

a descent as through liquid (especially through water)

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

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

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

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

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.

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

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)

From this reading In the days of the prehistoric ocean the southern part of the peninsula already existed, and the high places of Dravidia have been land since land began, and have seen on the one side the sinking of a continent that joined them to Africa, and on the other the upheaval of the Himalayas from a sea.

the sustainer; a Hindu divinity worshipped as the preserver of worlds

From this reading The Ganges, though flowing from the foot of Vishnu and through Siva’s hair, is not an ancient stream.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The mountains rose, their debris silted up the ocean, the gods took their seats on them and contrived the river, and the India we call immemorial came into being.

at the time that

From this reading Geology, looking further than religion, knows of a time when neither the river nor the Himalayas that nourished it existed, and an ocean flowed over the holy places of Hindustan.