Chapter XI · Waiting for the Leccos

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

aimlessly drifting

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

later than; following

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

anew

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

(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 For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

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

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

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

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

declared publicly; made widely known

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

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

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

towards the shore from the water

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

completely unclothed

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

formed or made thin by hammering

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

a native or inhabitant of Bolivia

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

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

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

-ing form of “claw” — move as if by clawing, seizing, or digging

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

having or marked by confidence or assurance

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

plural of “crew” — the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

accepted or habitual practice

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

showing modest reserve

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

inflected form of “drink” — take in liquids

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

past form of “droop” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

the power to withstand hardship or stress

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

past form of “feast” — partake in a feast or banquet

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

plural of “feat” — a notable achievement

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

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

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

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

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

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 For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

plural of “hut” — temporary military shelter

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

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

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

spontaneously derived from or prompted by a natural tendency

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

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

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

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 Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

(often followed by “of”) a large number or amount or extent

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

for the most part

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

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

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

one of the contractile organs of the body

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

any cohesive unit such as a military company

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

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

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

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

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

a large number or amount

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

the state of having been made ready or prepared for use or action (especially military action)

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

a parallelogram with four right angles

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

an exile who flees for safety

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

precisely, exactly

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

plural of “rise” — a growth in strength or number or importance

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

in a peacefully serene manner

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

an ability that has been acquired by training

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

inflected form of “sleep” — be asleep

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

in or at or to some place

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

having great beauty and splendor

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

moving very fast

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

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

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

very small

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

doing arduous or unpleasant work

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

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

From this reading A splendid lot of half-civilized people, tremendous of muscle and capable of prodigious feats of strength and endurance on their rivers; ashore sober and diffident, afloat on their rafts, by right of an immemorial custom they are always drunk and serenely confident in their intuitive skill.

relating to or situated in or characteristic of the tropics (the region on either side of the equator)

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

being four more than twenty

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

two times

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

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

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

past form of “wait” — stay in one place and anticipate or expect something

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

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

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

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 Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading FOR a month we waited in this tiny straggling rectangle of thatched huts before the _balsas_ or _callapos_ could get up to us to move our outfit down the river.

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

From this reading Somewhere below us on the turbulent river Lecco crews were toiling up against the current, dragging and clawing their way through narrow cañons, hanging fast in places to the bare rock, and again helped by the long, tropical vines that drooped to the swift water.

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

From this reading For twenty-four hours after they arrived on the hot stone beach below the bluff on which Mapiri lived they drank and feasted and slept and then their head man, a Bolivian refugee, announced that all was in readiness.

destroyed in an accident

From this reading Twice they had been beaten back by sudden rises in the river; the third time they got through, although two balsas had been wrecked and for the past two days they had lived mainly on the berries and leaves along the jungle banks.