Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

aimlessly drifting

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

in an amazing manner; to everyone's surprise

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

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

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

(psychiatry) a relatively permanent state of worry and nervousness occurring in a variety of mental disorders, usually accompanied by compulsive behavior or attacks of panic

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

eagerly desirous

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

any thing at all

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

from appearances alone

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

past form of “arrive” — reach a destination; arrive by movement or progress

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of "The Kindred of the Wild," etc.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

the two together, not just one

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

characterized by great determination

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

past form of “discolor” — lose color or turn colorless

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

past form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

the wide part of a river where it nears the sea; fresh and salt water mix

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading Author of "The Kindred of the Wild," etc.

divisible by two

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

opinion or judgment

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

to a faint degree or weakly perceived

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

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

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

the type of environment in which an organism or group normally lives or occurs

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

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

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

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

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

(of winds) coming from the sea toward the land

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

and nothing more

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

similar in quality or character

From this reading Author of "The Kindred of the Wild," etc.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

good weather with comfortable temperatures

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of "The Kindred of the Wild," etc.

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

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

a fundamental principle or practice

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

(of a body of water) free from disturbance by heavy waves

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

the property of producing abundantly and sustaining vigorous and luxuriant growth

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

get by special effort

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

hit with a missile from a weapon

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

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

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

moving slowly

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

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

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

anyone who does not belong in the environment in which they are found

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

a juicy appetizingness

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

-ing form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

abundantly filled with especially living things

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

moderately warm

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading Author of "The Kindred of the Wild," etc.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

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

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

lacking grace in movement or posture

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

not known

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading But the inshore shallows were full of water-weeds of a rankness and succulence far beyond anything he had enjoyed in his old habitat, and he was determined to secure himself a place here.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

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

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading Author of "The Kindred of the Wild," etc.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It lay apparently afloat on the sluggish, faintly discolored tide--a placid, horse-faced, shovel-nosed head, with bumpy holes for ears and immense round eyes of a somewhat anxious mildness.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The anxiety in the great eyes was not without reason, for their owner had just arrived in the tepid and teeming waters of this estuary, and the creatures which he had already seen about him were both unknown and menacing.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading From time to time, as some new monster came in sight, the ungainly head would shoot up amazingly to a distance of five or ten, or even fifteen feet, on a swaying pillar of a neck, in order to get a better view of the stranger.