Chapter XI

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

constructed with or in the form of an arch or arches

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading The boy was wide awake, reclining in the bottom of the boat, with his head against his mother’s dress.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

the lower side of anything

From this reading The boy was wide awake, reclining in the bottom of the boat, with his head against his mother’s dress.

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

a youthful male person

From this reading The boy was wide awake, reclining in the bottom of the boat, with his head against his mother’s dress.

lacking funds

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

the first light of day

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading THE FIFTH DAY.

state of violent mental agitation

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

put on clothes

From this reading The boy was wide awake, reclining in the bottom of the boat, with his head against his mother’s dress.

past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

past form of “droop” — droop, sink, or settle from or as if from pressure or loss of tautness

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading His eyes looked large and glassy, his lips white, and his skin dusky-hued.

opinion or judgment

From this reading His eyes looked large and glassy, his lips white, and his skin dusky-hued.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon

From this reading THE FIFTH DAY.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness

From this reading His eyes looked large and glassy, his lips white, and his skin dusky-hued.

wale at the top of the side of boat; topmost planking of a wooden vessel

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

English writer and lexicographer (1709-1784)

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading His eyes looked large and glassy, his lips white, and his skin dusky-hued.

held up in the air

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading His eyes looked large and glassy, his lips white, and his skin dusky-hued.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

possessive form of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading The boy was wide awake, reclining in the bottom of the boat, with his head against his mother’s dress.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

an insignificant place

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The boy was wide awake, reclining in the bottom of the boat, with his head against his mother’s dress.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

above and across; more than

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

the act of assuming or maintaining a reclining position

From this reading The boy was wide awake, reclining in the bottom of the boat, with his head against his mother’s dress.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

transport commercially

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch

From this reading His eyes looked large and glassy, his lips white, and his skin dusky-hued.

a natural and periodic state of rest during which consciousness of the world is suspended

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading THE FIFTH DAY.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

a crosspiece spreading the gunnels of a boat; used as a seat in a rowboat

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

up to a particular time

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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 Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

at the time that

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

a Caucasian

From this reading His eyes looked large and glassy, his lips white, and his skin dusky-hued.

which person or people

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

belonging to which person

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

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

From this reading The boy was wide awake, reclining in the bottom of the boat, with his head against his mother’s dress.

a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading In this way the boat drifted on until the dawn broke, when the wind fell.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.

past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of

From this reading Johnson lifted his head and looked about him; and first for the ship that had passed them in the night--but she was nowhere visible; then at Holdsworth, whose delirium had yielded to sleep, and who slumbered with his feet on the thwart, his back arched like a bow, and his head between his knees; then at the widow, who drooped against the boat’s side, her arm over the gunwale, and her hand in the water.