Chapter VI

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

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Five minutes more passed before he was able to speak a word.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Then in a dry tone--the only dry thing about Skeeter--he said:

aimlessly drifting

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

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

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

From this reading “I wus fixin’ to turn aroun’ at de bend, anyhow.

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

From this reading “I wus fixin’ to turn aroun’ at de bend, anyhow.

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

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

form a curve

From this reading “I wus fixin’ to turn aroun’ at de bend, anyhow.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

plural of “butt” — thick end of the handle

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

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

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

involving or causing danger or risk; liable to hurt or harm

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading “I wus fixin’ to turn aroun’ at de bend, anyhow.

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

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading Then in a dry tone--the only dry thing about Skeeter--he said:

creating or arousing excitement

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

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

From this reading “I wus fixin’ to turn aroun’ at de bend, anyhow.

set up or found

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

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

From this reading Five minutes more passed before he was able to speak a word.

any place of complete bliss and delight and peace

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

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

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “I wus fixin’ to turn aroun’ at de bend, anyhow.

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

From this reading Then in a dry tone--the only dry thing about Skeeter--he said:

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

immediately past

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

and nothing more

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

any amazing or wonderful occurrence

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Five minutes more passed before he was able to speak a word.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

and nothing more

From this reading Then in a dry tone--the only dry thing about Skeeter--he said:

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Five minutes more passed before he was able to speak a word.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

past form of “quiet” — become quiet or quieter

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

get or find back; recover the use of

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

past form of “regard” — deem to be

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

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

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Then in a dry tone--the only dry thing about Skeeter--he said:

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

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

express in speech

From this reading Five minutes more passed before he was able to speak a word.

not in physical motion

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

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

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then in a dry tone--the only dry thing about Skeeter--he said:

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

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

a special situation

From this reading Then in a dry tone--the only dry thing about Skeeter--he said:

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

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading Then in a dry tone--the only dry thing about Skeeter--he said:

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading “I wus fixin’ to turn aroun’ at de bend, anyhow.

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

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

change directions as if revolving on a pivot

From this reading It was five minutes before Skeeter Butts could recover his breath and crawl to the wheel.

at the time that

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Five minutes more passed before he was able to speak a word.

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading The experience was not dangerous, merely exciting; but the quartet did not know that, and when at last the river quieted, and they found themselves still afloat, they regarded it as a miracle wrought by the mercy of heaven.

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

From this reading “I wus fixin’ to turn aroun’ at de bend, anyhow.