Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

-ing form of “affront” — treat, mention, or speak to rudely

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

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

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

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

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

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

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading We might well be at our prayers.

the power or right to give orders or make decisions

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

possessive form of “badger” — a native or resident of Wisconsin

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

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

From this reading We might well be at our prayers.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

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

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

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

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

plural of “call” — a telephone connection

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

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

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

plural of “chieftain” — the leader of a group of people

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

rid of obstructions

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

the condition of being concealed or hidden

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

placed crosswise

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

in a sincere and heartfelt manner

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

plural of “den” — the habitation of wild animals

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

psychological suffering

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

a serving of drink (usually alcoholic) drawn from a keg

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

plural of “errand” — a short trip that is taken in the performance of a necessary task or mission

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

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

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

plural of “family” — a social unit living together

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

extremely hungry

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

inflected form of “ferry” — transport from one place to another

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

start firing a weapon

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

in a generous manner

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

plural of “glen” — a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

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 For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

any place of pain and turmoil

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

a trivalent metallic element of the rare earth group; occurs together with yttrium; forms highly magnetic compounds

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

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

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

the foot of an ungulate mammal

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

plural of “horde” — a vast multitude

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

a noisemaker (as at parties or games) that makes a loud noise when you blow through it

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

a physiological need for food; the consequence of food deprivation

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

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

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

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 For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

a long narrow inlet of the sea in Scotland (especially when it is nearly landlocked)

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

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

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

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

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

the force of workers available

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

a gay feeling

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading We might well be at our prayers.

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

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

deprive of by deceit

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We might well be at our prayers.

marked by the reception of pay

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

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

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

plural of “prayer” — the act of communicating with a deity (especially as a petition or in adoration or contrition or thanksgiving)

From this reading We might well be at our prayers.

a condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

an artificial language for international use that rejects all existing words and is based instead on an abstract analysis of ideas

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

destroyed physically or morally

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

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

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

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

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

plural of “shepherd” — a clergyman who watches over a group of people

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

plural of “shout” — a loud utterance; often in protest or opposition

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

inflected form of “swim” — travel through water

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

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

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

in or at that place or location

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

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

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

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

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

soldiers collectively

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

not easy to understand or use

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

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

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

the act of taking revenge (harming someone in retaliation for something harmful that they have done) especially in the next life

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We might well be at our prayers.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

(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 We might well be at our prayers.

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

From this reading Appin paid dearly for its merriment in the land of Cailein Mor, and the MacDonalds were mulct most generously for our every hoof and horn.

at the time that

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

a Caucasian

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

which person or people

From this reading For when we crossed Loch Etive there came behind us from the ruined glens of Lower Lorn hordes of shepherds, hunters, small men of small families, who left their famished dens and holes, hunger sharping them at the nose, the dead bracken of concealment in their hair, to join in the vengeance on the cause of their distress.

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

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

superlative of “wild” — marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

fermented juice (of grapes especially)

From this reading In that clear, cold, white weather--the weather of the badger’s dream, as our proverb calls it--we brought these glens unfriendly, death in the black draught and the red wine of fire.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Without chieftains or authority, they came in savage bands, affronting the sea with their shouts as they swam or ferried; they made up with the wildest of our troops, and ho, ro! for the plaids far and wide on the errands of Hell.