Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

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

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

later than; following

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

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

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

aroused to action

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

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

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

the lower side of anything

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

without doubt or question

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

intentionally conceived

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

become fractured; break or crack on the surface only

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

in a state of mental numbness especially as resulting from shock

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

give pleasure to or be pleasing to

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

past form of “entomb” — place in a grave or tomb

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

an abrupt excited utterance

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

opinion or judgment

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

the face or front of a building

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

a long narrow depression in a surface

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

set up or found

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

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

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

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

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

tangled in a dense mass

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

not any; not one

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

a symptom of some physical hurt or disorder

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

a situation from which extrication is difficult especially an unpleasant or trying one

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

a prediction made by extrapolating from past observations

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

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

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

the act of searching for something

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

not marked by the use of reason

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

marked or dyed or discolored with foreign matter

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

not in physical motion

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

grievously affected especially by disease

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

to a sufficient degree

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

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

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

a source of materials to nourish the body

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

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

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

an instance of rapid strong pulsation (of the heart)

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading With an exclamation he struggled to his feet, still too dazed to think clearly, but sufficiently aroused to be startled by the predicament in which he found himself.

forced to turn and face attackers

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

walk (through relatively shallow water)

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading If he should be left there without sustenance, he told himself, he might as well be entombed; then, to his delight, he caught the sound of splashing water.

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

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.

at the time that

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

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

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading He was at the bottom of a rock-walled fissure, about six feet wide by twenty feet in length.

in the company of; together with

From this reading TRAPPED When Wade first opened his eyes, after he had been stricken senseless, he was first conscious of his throbbing head, and on seeking the reason of the pain, was amazed to find his fingers stained with the blood which matted his hair.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading There was no way to climb out of this natural prison, for its granite sides, fifteen feet in height, were without crack, projection, or other foothold; indeed, in the light of the afternoon sun, one _facade_ shone smooth as glass.