Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

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

From this reading The prototype of "Captain Cleveland" in the same novel was John Gow, the son of a Stromness merchant.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

the largest city in Ohio; located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie; a major Great Lakes port

From this reading The prototype of "Captain Cleveland" in the same novel was John Gow, the son of a Stromness merchant.

represented in words especially with sharpness and detail

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

not still wet

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

the state or fact of existing

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

opinion or judgment

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

encouraging or approving or pleasing

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

a fixed charge for a privilege or for professional services

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

occurring in spells and often abruptly

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

past form of “gleam” — be shiny, as if wet

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading The prototype of "Captain Cleveland" in the same novel was John Gow, the son of a Stromness merchant.

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

only a very short time before

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

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

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

ten 10s

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

relatively permanent disorder of the mind

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The prototype of "Captain Cleveland" in the same novel was John Gow, the son of a Stromness merchant.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

a surface coating for ceramics or porcelain

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

a man who serves as a sailor

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

plural of “mariner” — a man who serves as a sailor

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

thing or person that acts to produce a particular effect or achieve an end

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

A person or company involved in wholesale trade, especially with foreign countries.

From this reading The prototype of "Captain Cleveland" in the same novel was John Gow, the son of a Stromness merchant.

United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

informal terms for a mother

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

an extended fictional work in prose; usually in the form of a story

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

something offered (as a proposal or bid)

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

yielding a fair profit

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

a standard or typical example

From this reading The prototype of "Captain Cleveland" in the same novel was John Gow, the son of a Stromness merchant.

action taken in return for an injury or offense

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

Identical; not different.

From this reading The prototype of "Captain Cleveland" in the same novel was John Gow, the son of a Stromness merchant.

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

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

the exchange of goods for an agreed sum of money

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

transport commercially

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

term of address for a man

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

a small coin of the United Kingdom worth six pennies; not minted since 1970

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

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

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

a male human offspring

From this reading The prototype of "Captain Cleveland" in the same novel was John Gow, the son of a Stromness merchant.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

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

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

being four more than twenty

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

precisely as stated

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

the activity of making visits

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

German conductor (1876-1962)

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

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

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

suggesting the operation of supernatural influences

From this reading Sir Walter drew the strange, weird character of "Norna of the Fitful Head" in his novel _The Pirate_ from her.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading This man went to sea, and by some means or other became possessed of a ship named the _Revenge_, which carried twenty-four guns.

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

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

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

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

in the company of; together with

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

lean and wrinkled by shrinkage as from age or illness

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading She eked out her existence by selling favourable winds to mariners, for which her fee was sixpence, and hardly a mariner sailed out to sea from Stromness without visiting and paying his offering to Old Bessie Miller.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.

a late time of life

From this reading In 1814 he made the acquaintance of a very old woman near Stromness, named Bessie Miller, whom he described as being nearly one hundred years old, withered and dried up like a mummy, with light blue eyes that gleamed with a lustre like that of insanity.