Chapter VII

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

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

(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 At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

harass with persistent criticism or carping

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

plural of “bean” — any of various edible seeds of plants of the family Leguminosae used for food

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

cattle that are reared for their meat

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

a covering designed to be worn on a person's body

From this reading Their clothing was much the worse for hard service; so were their faces and hands.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

tiny lobster-like crustaceans usually boiled briefly

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

recognizable; marked

From this reading They decided, suddenly, to go home.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

primitive long-bodied carnivorous freshwater fish with a very long dorsal fin; found in sluggish waters of North America

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

divisible by two

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Their clothing was much the worse for hard service; so were their faces and hands.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

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

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

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

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

the soft tissue of the body of a vertebrate: mainly muscle tissue and fat

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

plural of “frog” — any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading They decided, suddenly, to go home.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading Their clothing was much the worse for hard service; so were their faces and hands.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading They decided, suddenly, to go home.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

immediately past

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

two-winged insect whose female has a long proboscis to pierce the skin and suck the blood of humans and animals

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Their clothing was much the worse for hard service; so were their faces and hands.

a net of transparent fabric with a loose open weave

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

plural of “peach” — cultivated in temperate regions

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

compacted by ironing

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

a stock or supply of foods

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

made less in size or amount or degree

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

worn away as by water or ice or wind

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

work done by one person or group that benefits another

From this reading Their clothing was much the worse for hard service; so were their faces and hands.

plural of “snake” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Their clothing was much the worse for hard service; so were their faces and hands.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

past form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading They decided, suddenly, to go home.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

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

From this reading THE COUNTY FAIR The boys stayed at Rock Creek ten days.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their provisions were reduced to a few beans and a can of peaches, and the fish in the fish-box.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

bound or secured closely

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading At last they were completely out of bait; the little marsh had been scoured clean of frogs, and even the snakes had deserted it; every stone and log had been overturned, for crawfish; they had been driven to bacon-rind, which was too hard, and to dogfish flesh, pressed beef, and bits of bread tied in mosquito netting, all of which were too soft.

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

From this reading Their clothing was much the worse for hard service; so were their faces and hands.