Chapter XV · Chapter 15

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

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

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

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

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

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

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

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

the 2nd largest ocean; separates North and South America on the west from Europe and Africa on the east

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

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

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

offering little or no hope

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

terminate

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

past form of “brood” — think moodily or anxiously about something

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

a sailboat with a single mast set far forward

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

metal shackles; for hands or legs

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

past form of “clamor” — make loud demands

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

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 A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

plural of “current” — a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

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

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

the act of making something completely wet

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

divisible by two

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

at any time

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

apart from; not including

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

preferred above all others and treated with partiality

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

plural of “fog” — droplets of water vapor suspended in the air near the ground

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

for a limitless time

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

highly enthusiastic

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

(nautical) a place of refuge (as for a ship)

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

plural of “hurricane” — a severe tropical cyclone usually with heavy rains and winds moving at 63-136 knots (12 on the Beaufort scale)

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

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

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

impossible or nearly impossible to see; imperceptible by the eye

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

plural of “island” — a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

plural of “islet” — a small island

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

having a sharply uneven surface or outline

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

past form of “lash” — beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

plural of “league” — an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

plural of “ledge” — a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

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

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

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

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

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

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

pose a threat to; present a danger to

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

a large indefinite number

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

completely unclothed

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

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

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

not any; not one

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

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

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

plural of “outline” — the line that appears to bound an object

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

relatively far from a center or middle

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

above and across; more than

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

overcome, as with emotions or perceptual stimuli

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

by chance

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

without mercy or pity

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

plural of “roller” — a grounder that rolls along the infield

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

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

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

not often

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

continuously varying

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

transport commercially

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

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

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

showing a brooding ill humor

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

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

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

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

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading A coast so little favored by summer that even in glowing August the sun could reach it seldom through its cold and drenching fogs.

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

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

plural of “tide” — the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

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

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.

experiencing intense pain especially mental pain

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

dangerously unstable and unpredictable

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

not making concessions

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

the topmost one of two

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

(geology) a rise of land to a higher elevation (as in the process of mountain building)

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

past form of “venture” — proceed somewhere despite the risk of possible dangers

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

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

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

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

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

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

From this reading Perhaps half a mile off shore lay the islands--some of them, indeed, mere ledges, deathtraps for ships, invisible except at low tide, but others naked hills of upthrust rock, which the highest tides and wildest hurricanes could not overwhelm.

in a willing manner

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading Even on the loftiest of them there was neither grass, bush, nor tree to break the jagged outlines, but day and night, summer and winter long, the sea-birds clamored over them, and brooded by the myriad on their upper ledges.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading A coast so pitiless, so lashed forever by the long, sullen rollers of the North Atlantic, so tormented by the shifting and treacherous currents of the tide between its chains of outlying rocky islets, that no ship ever ventured willingly within miles of its uncompromising menace.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading An iron coast, bleak, black, and desolate, without harborage for so much as a catboat for leagues to north or south.