Chapter XXI · Chapter 21

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

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

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

the hair growing on the lower part of a man's face

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

a visual display of information

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

a ductile malleable reddish-brown corrosion-resistant diamagnetic metallic element; occurs in various minerals but is the only metal that occurs abundantly in large masses; used as an electrical and thermal conductor

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

cause to be slowed down or delayed

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

past form of “depose” — force to leave (an office)

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

away from the source or with the current

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

possessive form of “dragon” — a creature of Teutonic mythology; usually represented as breathing fire and having a reptilian body and sometimes wings

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

weak from exhaustion

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

set up or found

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

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

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

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

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

the color of freshly broken cast iron

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

in a keen or penetrating way

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

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

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

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 Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

A terrifying or distressing dream.

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

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

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

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

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

leaking out slowly

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

above and across; more than

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

inflected form of “overtake” — catch up with and possibly overtake

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

full of difficulty or confusion or bewilderment

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

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

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

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

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

past form of “steer” — direct the course; determine the direction of travelling

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

a wide scarf worn about their shoulders by women

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

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

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

turn on a pivot

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

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

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

having come into contact

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

-ing form of “transform” — subject to a mathematical transformation

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

not neat and tidy

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

up to a particular time

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

one who wrongfully or illegally seizes and holds the place of another

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading In momentary danger of being cut off downstream, or overtaken from above, he kept the boat waiting along the oozy shore.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

look attentively

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading Puckering his eyes, he watched now the land, and now the river, silent, furtive, and keenly perplexed, his head on a swivel, as though he steered by some nightmare chart, or expected some instant and transforming sight.

relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts

From this reading Not until the sun touched the western hills, and long shadows from the bank stole out and turned the stream from bright copper to vague iron-gray, did he give over his watch.

a Caucasian

From this reading Captain Kneebone, his cheeks white and suddenly old beneath the untidy stubble of his beard, had taken charge.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.

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

From this reading THE DRAGON'S SHADOW The lowdah would have set his dirty sails without delay, for the fair wind was already drooping; but at the first motion he found himself deposed, and a usurper in command, at the big steering-paddle.