Chapter XXIII · Chapter 23

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

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

a person or thing that is a resource that helps make something easier or possible to do

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

a mechanical device that prevents a vessel from moving

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

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

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

from appearances alone

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

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

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

-ing form of “await” — look forward to the probable occurrence of

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

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

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

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

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

with self-possession (especially in times of stress)

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

the state of being imprisoned

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

succeed in representing or expressing something intangible

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

a deep opening in the earth's surface

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

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

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

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

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

past form of “conceive” — have the idea for

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

plural of “crowd” — a large number of things or people considered together

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

discovered or determined by scientific observation

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

without doubt; certainly

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

one or the other of two

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

past form of “entomb” — place in a grave or tomb

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

the state or fact of existing

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

an acute insufficiency

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

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

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

having a surface without slope, tilt in which no part is higher or lower than another

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

for a limitless time

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

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

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

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

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

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

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

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

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

past form of “issue” — prepare and issue for public distribution or sale

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

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

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

and nothing more

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

disposing of money or property with the expectation that the same thing (or an equivalent) will be returned

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

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

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

very unhappy; full of misery

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

not any; not one

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

come into possession of

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

above and across; more than

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

Goods or treasure taken by force or theft, especially in war or banditry.

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

having a pair of equal and opposite charges

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

the possibility of future success

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

a large number or amount

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

the feeling that comes when something burdensome is removed or reduced

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

a hotel located in a resort area

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

plural of “savage” — a member of an uncivilized people

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

cut with a saw

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

only a very short time before

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

toward the south

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

not in physical motion

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

-ing form of “swarm” — be teeming, be abuzz

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

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

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

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

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

as the end result of a succession or process

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

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

From this reading We saw before us no prospect but that of being put to death by the savages, or of dragging out a miserable existence in captivity among them.

a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading The vessel still lay calmly at anchor in the bay, those on board being apparently quite unconscious of any danger awaiting them.

a way of regarding situations or topics etc.

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

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

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

at the time that

From this reading Our situation, as it now appeared, was scarcely less dreadful than when we had conceived ourselves entombed forever.

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

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

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

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.

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

From this reading We might, to be sure, conceal ourselves for a time from their observation among the fastnesses of the hills, and, as a final resort, in the chasm from which we had just issued; but we must either perish in the long polar winter through cold and famine, or be ultimately discovered in our efforts to obtain relief.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The whole country around us seemed to be swarming with savages, crowds of whom, we now perceived, had come over from the islands to the southward on flat rafts, doubtless with a view of lending their aid in the capture and plunder of the Jane.