Chapter II · The Fighting Whale and Chinamen in the Chicken Coop

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

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

the quality of being near to the true value

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading A rope stretched across the after-deck marked off the steerage.

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

From this reading A rope stretched across the after-deck marked off the steerage.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

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

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

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

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

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

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

plural of “cane” — a stick that people can lean on to help them walk

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

past form of “chalk” — write, draw, or trace with chalk

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

a checkerboard game for two players who each have 12 pieces; the object is to jump over and so capture the opponent's pieces

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

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

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

plural of “club” — a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

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

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

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

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

zealous in devotion or affection

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

-ing form of “divide” — separate into parts or portions

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

plural of “evening” — the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

in an unqualified manner

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

a game played on a large open course with 9 or 18 holes; the object is use as few strokes as possible in playing all the holes

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

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

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

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 hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

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

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

concerning or belonging to all or at least two or more nations

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

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

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

with malice; in a malicious manner

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading A rope stretched across the after-deck marked off the steerage.

the force of workers available

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

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

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

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

From this reading A rope stretched across the after-deck marked off the steerage.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

and nothing more

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

above and across; more than

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

to extremes

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

giving pleasure and satisfaction

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

capable of being influenced or formed

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

drop something with a plopping sound

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

fire iron consisting of a metal rod with a handle; used to stir a fire

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

a person who speaks more than one language

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

move upward

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

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

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

move by turning over or rotating

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

a strong line

From this reading A rope stretched across the after-deck marked off the steerage.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

an unvarying or habitual method or procedure

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

concerned with religion or religious purposes

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

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

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

plural of “set” — a group of things of the same kind that belong together and are so used

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

a nap in the early afternoon (especially in hot countries)

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

inflected form of “skid” — slide without control

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

the relative tendency or disposition to be sociable or associate with one's fellows

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

-ing form of “standardize” — cause to conform to standard or norm

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

the cheapest accommodations on a passenger ship

From this reading A rope stretched across the after-deck marked off the steerage.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading A rope stretched across the after-deck marked off the steerage.

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

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The hot days drifted by in easy sociability, dividing themselves into a pliant routine.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

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

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

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

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

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

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

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

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

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

From this reading The morning was devoted to golf on the canvas covered deck over a nine-hole course chalked around ventilators, chicken-coops and deck-houses.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

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

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

at the time that

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

intensely zealous or fervid

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Crook-handled canes furnished the clubs and three sets of checkers were lost overboard before we reached the Guayas River, the little round men skidding flatly over the deck with a pleasing accuracy only at the end to rise up maliciously on one ear and roll, plop, into the sea.

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

From this reading In the white-hot afternoon, when the scant breeze would quite as likely drift with us, the hours were sacred to the siesta, and the evenings were devoted to standardizing an international, polyglot poker.