Chapter XII · The Hut on Black Pond

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

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

at or in the front

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading He knew what that was, although he had never been there.

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

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

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

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

plural of “angle” — the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

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

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He knew what that was, although he had never been there.

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

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

marked with irregularly shaped spots or blots

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

plural of “camper” — someone living temporarily in a tent or lodge for recreation

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

navigational instrument for finding directions

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

possessive form of “devil” — (Judeo-Christian and Islamic religions) chief spirit of evil and adversary of God; tempter of mankind; master of Hell

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

in a diagonal manner

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

coming down freely under the influence of gravity

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

something regarded with special favor or liking

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

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

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

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

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

the state of affairs that a plan is intended to achieve and that (when achieved) terminates behavior intended to achieve it

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

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

From this reading He knew what that was, although he had never been there.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

a collection of objects laid on top of each other

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

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

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

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

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading He knew what that was, although he had never been there.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

owning or consisting of land or real estate

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

the position of a prominent or well-known object in a particular landscape

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

a human limb; commonly used to refer to a whole limb but technically only the part of the limb between the knee and ankle

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

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

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

engage in

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

accumulated earth and stones deposited by a glacier

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

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

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

the side or slope of a mountain

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

the leaf of a conifer

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He knew what that was, although he had never been there.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

the northwestern region of the United States

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

a brief written record

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

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

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

the compass point midway between north and west; at 315 degrees

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

and nothing more

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

a small contrasting part of something

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

having a point

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

plural of “rattlesnake” — pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

a hotel located in a resort area

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

deeply affected or marked by mental or physical pain or injury

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

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

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

continuously varying

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

a small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

successive (without a break)

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.

carry out

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

station where transport vehicles load or unload passengers or goods

From this reading It was the terminal moraine Gil Shelton had pointed out to him the day he had first landed in camp—the Devil’s Potato Patch, the campers called it—a heap of blotched, round boulders known as a favorite resort for rattlesnakes.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

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

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

in or at that place or location

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

a special situation

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

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

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

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

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

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

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He knew what that was, although he had never been there.

in or at the place that

From this reading Half a mile up the road, where it turned at right angles to climb the mountainside, Blackie paused and took his first compass observation.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His course was northwest; but he remembered that if he looked at the compass only now and then, he might go wide of his goal; the thing to do was to take an observation, note a landmark ahead in line with the NW on the compass, make straight for that place, and from there make a new observation on another landmark.

covered with growing trees and bushes etc

From this reading The little shifting needle showed him that his first leg of the journey should take him diagonally up the wooded mountain to a grayish, scarred slide of stones that showed ahead in the dropping sun.