Chapter VII · Chapter 7

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

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

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

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

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

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

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

plural of “boat” — a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

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

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

plural of “creek” — a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

-ing form of “cruise” — drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

social or verbal interchange (usually followed by “with”)

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

plural of “difficulty” — an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

-ing form of “effect” — produce

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

plural of “feud” — a bitter quarrel between two parties

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

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

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

many times at short intervals

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

a strong wind moving 45-90 knots; force 7 to 10 on Beaufort scale

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

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

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

plural of “han” — imperial dynasty that ruled China (most of the time from 206 BC to AD 220) and expanded its boundaries and developed its bureaucracy; remembered as one of the great eras of Chinese civilization

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

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

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

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

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

incapable of being overcome or subdued

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

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

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

subjected to cruel treatment

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

above and across; more than

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

a future prospect or potential

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

inflected form of “rob” — take something away by force or without the consent of the owner

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The possibility of escape seemed small, indeed.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

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

From this reading The possibility of escape seemed small, indeed.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

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

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

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

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

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

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

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

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

plural of “tribe” — a social division of (usually preliterate) people

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

precisely as stated

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

plural of “village” — a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

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

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

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

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.

which person or people

From this reading They used--at least so the boys understood, by their signs--to fish, at one time; but they had been robbed of their boats, and maltreated, by some of the cruising tribes who lived in villages on the coast, or on creeks and rivers.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The particular people with whom they lived had nothing whatever to do with the sea.

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

From this reading Very frequently, in the days that followed, William Gale and his friend Hans talked over the possibility of effecting an escape; but the difficulties appeared almost invincible.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The various villages which, so far as the boys could understand, were scattered at some distance apart, had little dealings with each other; and indeed, were frequently engaged in feuds.