Chapter I · On the “Cryptic”

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

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

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

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

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

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

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

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

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

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

past form of “beleaguer” — annoy persistently

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

surrounded by hostile forces

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

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

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

a storm with widespread snowfall accompanied by strong winds

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

serving as an essential component

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

past form of “cheer” — give encouragement to

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

rid of obstructions

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

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 For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

of an obscure nature

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

borne up by or suspended in a liquid

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

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

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

the act of grasping

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

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

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

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

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

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

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

fasten with a hook

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

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

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

immediately past

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

the act of departing

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

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

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

in motion

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

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

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

not any; not one

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

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

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

the northwestern region of the United States

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

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

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

above and across; more than

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

plural of “passenger” — a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

through chance

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

a platform built out from the shore into the water and supported by piles; provides access to ships and boats

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

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

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

plural of “sky” — the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

lie obliquely

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

in or at or to some place

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

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

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

the rays of the sun

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

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

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

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

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

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

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

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

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

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 It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading For three whole weeks the great city had been beleaguered by cold; held besieged in the icy grip of a blizzard which, moving from northwest to south, had begun on the last day of January to devastate the central North American States.

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

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.

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

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

a Caucasian

From this reading On the forenoon of a day in February, 1899, the White Star S. S.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading _Cryptic_ forced her way from Pier No. 48 out into the Hudson River through a mass of floating ice, which made a moving carpet over the whole river from Poughkeepsie to Sandy Hook.

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

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading It was little wonder that the hearts of the outwardbound passengers were cheered with hope; outside on the wide ocean there must be somewhere clear skies and blue water, and perchance here and there a slant of sunshine.

the English royal house (a branch of the Plantagenet line) that reigned from 1461 to 1485; its emblem was a white rose

From this reading Come what might, however, it must be better than what they were leaving behind them in New York.