Chapter II

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

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

anew

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

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

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

any of various primates with short tails or no tail at all

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

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

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

at or to or toward the back or rear

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

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

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

superlative of “big” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

the two together, not just one

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading THE LINK I had broken my thumb.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

-ing form of “clutch” — take hold of; grab

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

treated so as to have a permanently wrinkled appearance

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

mark as different

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

divisible by two

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

having the character of, or characteristic of, a traitor

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

past form of “grapple” — succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

capable of arousing and holding the attention

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

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

From this reading THE LINK I had broken my thumb.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

only a very short time before

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading THE LINK I had broken my thumb.

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

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

staying power

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

one of the jointed appendages of an animal used for locomotion or grasping: arm; leg; wing; flipper

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

make a logical or causal connection

From this reading THE LINK I had broken my thumb.

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 It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

past form of “lurch” — walk as if unable to control one's movements

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

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

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading THE LINK I had broken my thumb.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

not any; not one

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

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

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

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

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

and nothing more

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

established beyond doubt

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

very bad

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

Identical; not different.

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

inflected form of “slide” — move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

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

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

move stealthily

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

past form of “sprain” — twist suddenly so as to sprain

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

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

From this reading THE LINK I had broken my thumb.

in or at that place or location

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

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

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

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

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

propel through the air

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

the thick short innermost digit of the forelimb

From this reading THE LINK I had broken my thumb.

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

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

the upper branches and leaves of a tree or other plant

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

meriting respect or esteem

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

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

From this reading I should have clung easily with my other hands--those I now call my feet--and uptwisted myself and grappled him about the legs.

having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

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

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

wanting in physical strength

From this reading The Brown One--I call him that now, to distinguish him, though we had no names--was a strong creature, the biggest ape in all the forest, but it could not have been possible for him to throw me from the limb, even when its slighter upstanding branch which I was clutching with one hand proved weak and faithless as I lurched and slid.

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

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

at the time that

From this reading It was a long fall and not only was my thumb broken, but the fingers on the same hand were crushed backward and so sprained that they were useless, and when I tried to climb the tree again, to renew the fight, I could not.

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

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I do not know what made me slip and fall, for there were few among the treetop people more certain upon a limb than I. But that upon which I had stood was old and it may be that the one to which I clung was rotten, and so I fell, though I was gripping the other hardly with the fingers of both my feet.