Chapter XX · Chapter 20

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

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

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

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

desiring or striving for recognition or advancement

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

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

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading For miles west and north, it would have been impossible to find more than three fathoms.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

a path over which electrical signals can pass

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

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

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

plural of “clump” — a grouping of a number of similar things

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

deprive of freedom; take into confinement

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

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

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

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

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

an external body part that projects from the body

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

plural of “fathom” — a linear unit of measurement (equal to 6 feet) for water depth

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and five

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading For miles west and north, it would have been impossible to find more than three fathoms.

a state in southeastern United States between the Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico; one of the Confederate states during the American Civil War

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For miles west and north, it would have been impossible to find more than three fathoms.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

assemble or get together

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

destroyed or killed

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading For miles west and north, it would have been impossible to find more than three fathoms.

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

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

a line of text serving to indicate what the passage below it is about

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

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

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading For miles west and north, it would have been impossible to find more than three fathoms.

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

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

tiresomely long; seemingly without end

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

engage in

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

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

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

tediously repetitious or lacking in variety

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States north of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

occurring from time to time

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

above and across; more than

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

plural of “palm” — the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

plural of “passion” — a strong feeling or emotion

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

a coniferous tree

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

precisely, exactly

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

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

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

Identical; not different.

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

not often

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

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

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

in the near future

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

plural of “swamp” — low land that is seasonally flooded; has more woody plants than a marsh and better drainage than a bog

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

hair resembling thatched roofing material

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

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

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

in or at that place or location

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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

From this reading For miles west and north, it would have been impossible to find more than three fathoms.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It was evident that the island kept its head above water with difficulty, and that the course we were running over was all the time aspiring to be dry land, right away from the coast to the Florida channel.

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

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

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

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

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

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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 We had some fifty miles to make before we reached its northern extremity--and, all the way, we seldom had more than two fathoms of water, and the coast was the same interminable line of mangroves and thatch palms, with occasional clumps of pine trees, and here and there the mouth of a creek, leading into duck-haunted swamps.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading For miles west and north, it would have been impossible to find more than three fathoms.

relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts

From this reading So we were soon under way, out of the river, and heading north up the western shore of the big monotonous island.

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

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

in the company of; together with

From this reading _In Which We Gather Shells--and Other Matters._ With Charlie gone, and duck-shooting not being one of my passions, there was nothing to detain me in Andros.

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

From this reading For miles west and north, it would have been impossible to find more than three fathoms.