Chapter V · Chapter 5

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

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

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

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

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

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

a tank or pool or bowl filled with water for keeping live fish and underwater animals

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

plural of “autograph” — something written by one's own hand

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

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

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

in a blissful manner

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

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

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

filled to capacity

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

plural of “butterfly” — diurnal insect typically having a slender body with knobbed antennae and broad colorful wings

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

plural of “case” — an occurrence of something

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

having a coating; covered with an outer layer or film; often used in combination

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

the act of gathering something together

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

that confounds or contradicts or confuses

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

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

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

infestation of the pubic hair by crab lice

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

freedom to act or judge on one's own

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

move gently or carefully

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

plural of “enthusiast” — an ardent and enthusiastic supporter of some person or activity

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

plural of “fad” — an interest followed with exaggerated zeal

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

plural of “find” — a productive insight

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

usually; as a rule

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

plural of “gnat” — any of various small biting flies: midges; biting midges; black flies; sand flies

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

informal terms for a meal

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

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

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

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

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

plural of “investigation” — an inquiry into unfamiliar or questionable activities

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

press tightly together or cram

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

Wide-mouthed cylindrical containers made of clay or glass, used for storing goods.

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

time available for ease and relaxation

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

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 "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

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

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

an irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

an adulterous woman; a woman who has an ongoing extramarital sexual relationship with a man

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

plural of “moth” — typically crepuscular or nocturnal insect having a stout body and feathery or hairlike antennae

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

water soaked soil; soft wet earth

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

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

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

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

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

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

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

above and across; more than

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

plural of “party” — an organization to gain political power

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

as yourself

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

a mutual promise of a couple not to date anyone else; on college campuses it was once signaled by the giving of a fraternity pin

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

a person who is being chased

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

past form of “rage” — behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

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

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

inflected form of “rap” — strike sharply

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

affording physical or mental rest

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

an educational institution

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

of or relating to the practice of science

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

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

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

of superior grade

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

the context and environment in which something is set

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

plural of “skirt” — cloth covering that forms the part of a garment below the waist

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

cover or stain with slime

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

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

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Those who had caught butterflies and moths during the summer spent some of their leisure now in relaxing and setting them, and pinning them into cases.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

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

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading The collecting mania, in a variety of forms, raged hot and strong.

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 "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

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

From this reading Autographs The Brackenfielders, like most other girls, were given to fads.

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

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

which person or people

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

a feeling of strong eagerness (usually in favor of a person or cause)

From this reading "The Gnats", as the members of the Natural History Society were named, sometimes pursued their investigations with more zeal than discretion, and they generally returned from their rambles with skirts much the worse for green slime and sea water, and boots coated with sand and mud, but brimming over with the importance of their "finds", and confounding non-members by the ease with which they rapped out long scientific names.

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

From this reading There were the Natural History enthusiasts, who went in select parties, personally conducted by a mistress, to the shore at low tide, to grub blissfully among the rocks for corallines and zoophytes and spider crabs and madrepores and anemones, to be placed carefully in jam jars and brought back to the school aquarium.