Chapter III

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

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

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

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

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

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

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

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

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

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

plural of “assault” — close fighting during the culmination of a military attack

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

plural of “avalanche” — a slide of large masses of snow and ice and mud down a mountain

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

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

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

examine so as to determine accuracy, quality, or condition

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

A large French country house or castle, often surrounded by expansive estates and private galleries.

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

gotten under control

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

plural of “dam” — a barrier constructed to contain the flow of water or to keep out the sea

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

An action of moving downward, dropping, or falling into a deeper place.

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

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

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

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

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

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

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

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 Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

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

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

past form of “heap” — bestow in large quantities

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

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

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

crowded or massed together

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

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

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

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

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

archaic terms for army

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

plural of “le” — a chronic inflammatory collagen disease affecting connective tissue (skin or joints)

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

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

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

disregarded

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

having a margin incised almost to the base so as to create distinct divisions or lobes

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

a coniferous tree

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

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

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

an abstraction belonging to or characteristic of two entities or parts together

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

-ing form of “retain” — hold back within

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

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

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

having an oblique or slanted direction

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

a bony hollow into which a structure fits

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

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

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

past form of “survive” — continue to live and avoid dying

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

plural of “terrace” — usually paved outdoor area adjoining a residence

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

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

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

move fast, noisily, and heavily

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

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

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

having edges that are jagged from injury

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

plural of “torrent” — a heavy rain

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

plural of “tower” — a structure taller than its diameter; can stand alone or be attached to a larger building

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

unshaken in purpose

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

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

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

a state of commotion and noise and confusion

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

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

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

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

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

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

From this reading Above it sloped the stony steeps of the Flegère; below were huddled neglected terraces, like dams to check the further descent of the house into the valley.

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

From this reading It might, in its relation to the huge quarry which contained it, have been part of the mountain itself, a vast boulder torn away from its parent rock, and retaining in relief the form of the socket from which it had parted.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading Towers, pinnacles and walls, heaped up like an enormous ice-mould, seemed to have shaped themselves to the uproar of avalanches, and falling torrents, and the thunder of the wind which uproots whole hill-sides.

inflected form of “withstand” — resist or confront with resistance

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading The Château di Rocco stood well back, among pine woods, from the little village of Les Chables on the Argentière Road.

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet it was so old itself as to have withstood a legion of assaults and survived unshaken.