Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

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

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

anew

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

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

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

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

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

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

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

without civilizing influences

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

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

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

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

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

lacking grace in movement or posture

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

one of the large landmasses of the earth

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

showing effects of planning or manipulation

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

a conversation between two persons

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

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

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

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

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

make void or empty of contents

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

morally objectionable behavior

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

plural of “feature” — a prominent attribute or aspect of something

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

make full, also in a metaphorical sense

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

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

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

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

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

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

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

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

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

and nothing more

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

in a laborious manner

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

temporary living quarters

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

machines or machine systems collectively

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

a thick flat pad used as a floor covering

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

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

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

plural of “material” — the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

the force of workers available

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

a public toilet for men

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

in spite of what has just been said

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

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

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

treated with oil

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

above and across; more than

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

past form of “ponder” — reflect deeply on a subject

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

concerned with actual use or practice

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

past form of “quicken” — move faster

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

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

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

a state of social isolation

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

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

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

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

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

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

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

a special situation

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

in an exhaustive manner

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

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

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

up to a particular time

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

precisely as stated

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

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

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

at the time that

From this reading The first thing Mat did when he got to his lodgings, was to fill and light his pipe.

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

From this reading He then sat down on his bear-skins, and dragged the box close to him which he had brought from Dibbledean.

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

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Solitude and Peril are stern schoolmasters, but they do their duty for good or evil, thoroughly with some men; and they had done it thoroughly, amid the rocks and wildernesses of the great American continent, with Mat.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading Although the machinery of Mat's mind was constructed of very clumsy and barbaric materials; although book-learning had never oiled it, and wise men's talk had never quickened it; nevertheless, it always contrived to work on--much as it was working now--until it reached, sooner or later, a practical result.

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

From this reading Many a pipe did he empty and fill again, many a dark change passed over his heavy features, as he now pondered long and laboriously over every word of the dialogue that had just been held between himself and Zack.