used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
take a risk in the hope of a favorable outcome
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
(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 Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
areauxiliary verbUS /ɑːr/
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
backwatersnounUS /ˈbækwɔːtərz/
plural of “backwater” — a body of water that was created by a flood or tide or by being held or forced back by a dam
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
battlingverbUS /ˈbætəlɪŋ/
-ing form of “battle” — battle or contend against in or as if in a battle
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
beachcombersnounUS /ˈbiːtʃkoʊmərz/
plural of “beachcomber” — a vagrant living on a beach
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
bribedverbUS /braɪbd/
past form of “bribe” — make illegal payments to in exchange for favors or influence
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
CalamitynounUS /kəˈlæməti/
an event resulting in great loss and misfortune
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
citiesnounUS /ˈsɪtiz/
plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
civilisationnoun
the social process whereby societies achieve an advanced stage of development and organization
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
the act of departing
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
derelictsnounUS /ˈderəlɪkts/
plural of “derelict” — a person without a home, job, or property
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
the property created by the space between two objects or points
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
driftedverbUS /ˈdrɪftəd/
past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
come upon, as if by accident; meet with
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
a powerful effect or influence
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
set up or found
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
HAWKnounUS /hɔːk/
diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
and nothing more
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
a characteristic state or mode of living
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
luxuriantadjectiveUS /ləɡˈʒɜːriənt/
marked by complexity and richness of detail
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
maintainedadjectiveUS /meɪnˈteɪnd/
kept in good condition
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
the force of workers available
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
being nothing more than specified
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
minimumnounUS /ˈmɪnəməm/
the smallest possible quantity
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
not any; not one
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
obsessedadjectiveUS /əbˈsest/
having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
many times at short intervals
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
outcastsnounUS /ˈaʊtkæsts/
plural of “outcast” — a person who is rejected (from society or home)
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
overprepositionUS /ˈoʊvər/
above and across; more than
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
over-civilised
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
overcrowdedverbUS /ˈoʊvərkraʊdɪd/
past form of “overcrowd” — cause to crowd together too much
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
plural of “reason” — a rational motive for a belief or action
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
relativesnounUS /ˈrelətɪvz/
plural of “relative” — a person related by blood or marriage
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
remittancenounUS /riˈmɪtəns/
a payment of money sent to a person in another place
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
free from danger or the risk of harm
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
scopenounUS /skoʊp/
an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
semi-barbarism
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
relating to human society and its members
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
the vital principle or animating force within living things
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
strivingnounUS /ˈstraɪvɪŋ/
an effortful attempt to attain a goal
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
superabundantadjective
most excessively abundant
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
belonging to the people or things already mentioned
From this reading Some are just "remittance men," social outcasts, bribed to remain at a safe distance from their more respectable relatives.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
from one end or side of something to the other
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
the act of using
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
precisely as stated
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
vitalitynounUS /vaɪˈtæləti/
an energetic style
From this reading A few, a very few, are men obsessed by a spirit of adventure; men who can find no scope for their superabundant energy and vitality in the overcrowded, over-civilised cities of the world.
in or at the place that
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
which person or people
From this reading THE DEPARTURE OF THE "HAWK" Captain Calamity appeared to be one of those men who, for various reasons and often through force of circumstances, have drifted into the backwaters of civilisation to a life of semi-barbarism.
the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading Some are mere beachcombers, derelicts for whom the striving, battling world has no further use.
in the company of; together with
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
everything that exists anywhere
From this reading Men of this sort are to be found all over the New World, but more particularly in the luxuriant islands of the South Pacific, where life can be maintained with a minimum of effort.
