Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

having companions or an escort

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

later than; following

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

(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 Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

in addition

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

North American republic containing 50 states - 48 conterminous states in North America plus Alaska in northwest North America and the Hawaiian Islands in the Pacific Ocean; achieved independence in 1776

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

at or toward the back of something

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

a young woman who is the most charming and beautiful of several rivals

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

in addition to; as well as

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

the largest Latin American country and the largest Portuguese speaking country in the world; located in the central and northeastern part of South America; world's leading coffee exporter

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

a native or inhabitant of Brittany (especially one who speaks the Breton language)

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

superlative of “broad” — having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

son of John Cabot who was born in Italy and who led an English expedition in search of the Northwest Passage and a Spanish expedition that explored the La Plata region of Brazil; in 1544 he published a map of the world (1476-1557)

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

plural of “canoe” — small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

a strip of land projecting into a body of water

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

French explorer who explored the St. Lawrence river and laid claim to the region for France (1491-1557)

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a path over which electrical signals can pass

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

being joined in close association

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

one of the large landmasses of the earth

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

travel across or pass over

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

past form of “discern” — detect with the senses

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

the state or fact of existing

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

the act of someone who fishes as a diversion

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

an arm of a sea or ocean partly enclosed by land; larger than a bay

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

possessive form of “hudson” — a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

incapable of being explained or accounted for

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

situated away from an area's coast or border

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

a small island

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a string of more than 3,000 islands to the east of Asia extending 1,300 miles between the Sea of Japan and the western Pacific Ocean

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

the mainland part of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador in the eastern part of the large Labrador-Ungava Peninsula in northeastern Canada

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

plural of “lake” — a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

Roman martyr; supposedly Lawrence was ordered by the police to give up the church's treasure and when he responded by presenting the poor people of Rome he was roasted to death on a gridiron (died in 258)

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

take somebody somewhere

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

possessive form of “magellan” — Portuguese navigator in the service of Spain; he commanded an expedition that was the first to circumnavigate the world (1480-1521)

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

a midwestern state in central United States; a border state during the American Civil War, Missouri was admitted to the Confederacy without actually seceding from the Union

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

an old word for “no”

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

a breed of very large heavy dogs with a thick coarse usually black coat; highly intelligent dogs and vigorous swimmers; developed in Newfoundland

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

being perceived or observed

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

and nothing more

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

financial transactions at a brokerage; having to do with the execution of trades and keeping customer records

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

not taken into account

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

the largest ocean in the world

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

plural of “passage” — the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

the Romance language spoken in Portugal and Brazil

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

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

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

a magnitude or frequency relative to a time unit

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

on the contrary

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

put into a recess

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

plural of “region” — the extended spatial location of something

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

a groove or furrow (especially one in soft earth caused by wheels)

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a compound formed by replacing hydrogen in an acid by a metal (or a radical that acts like a metal)

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

that is looked for

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a bad or difficult situation or state of affairs

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

believed likely

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

instrumentality that combines interrelated interacting artifacts designed to work as a coherent entity

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

from that place or that time

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

in or at that place or location

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

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

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

a person who changes location

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

Florentine navigator who explored the eastern coast of North America (circa 1485-1528)

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

precisely as stated

From this reading Estevão Gomez noticed Cabot Straits between Cape Breton and Newfoundland, but thought them only a very deep bay.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

an act of traveling by water

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

close enough to be walked to

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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 Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

a ridge of land that separates two adjacent river systems

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

plural of “waterway” — a navigable body of water

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Jacques Cartier Verrazano and Gomez, and probably the English captain, John Rut, had all sought for the opening of a strait of salt water--like Magellan's Straits in the far south--which should lead them through the great North-American continent to the regions of China and Japan.

which person or people

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

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

From this reading John Rut and others discerned the Straits of Belle Isle as a wide recess in the coast rather than the mouth of a channel leading far inland.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

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

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.

a late time of life

From this reading And yet, after thirty years of Breton, English, and Portuguese fishing operations in these waters, there must have been glimmerings of the existence of the great Gulf of St. Lawrence behind Newfoundland: and JACQUES CARTIER (or Quartier), who had probably made already one voyage to Newfoundland (besides a visit to Brazil), suspected that between Newfoundland and Labrador there lay the opening of the great sea passage "leading to China".

but in spite of that

From this reading Yet in some incomprehensible way they overlooked the two broad passages to the north and south of Newfoundland--the Straits of Belle Isle and of Cabot--which would at any rate lead them into the vast Gulf of St. Lawrence, and thence to the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes; a natural system of waterways connected each with the other and all with the Mississippi and Missouri, the Arctic Ocean, and Hudson's Bay; nay, more, with the North Pacific also; so that with a few "portages", or carryings of canoes from one watershed to another, a traveller of any enterprise, accompanied by a sturdy crew, can cross the broad continent of North America at its broadest from sea to sea without much walking.