Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

positioned so as to be ready for confrontation or danger

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

huge quadrupedal herbivorous dinosaur common in North America in the late Jurassic

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

a heavy open wagon usually having two wheels and drawn by an animal

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

-ing form of “concern” — be relevant to

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

in a coy manner

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

the outer layer of the Earth

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

wood of any of various cypress trees especially of the genus Cupressus

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

having escaped, especially from confinement

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

plural of “explorer” — someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose)

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

formed or conceived by the imagination

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

plural of “glen” — a narrow secluded valley (in the mountains)

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

rock fragments and pebbles

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

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

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

only a very short time before

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

follow stealthily or recur constantly and spontaneously to

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

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

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

plural of “legend” — a story about mythical or supernatural beings or events

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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 A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

plural of “monster” — an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

water soaked soil; soft wet earth

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

in a narrow manner; not allowing for exceptions

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

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

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

-ing form of “peek” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

possessive form of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

plural of “pistol” — a firearm that is held and fired with one hand

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

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

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

a verbalization that encourages you to attempt something

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

past form of “struggle” — make a strenuous or labored effort

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

required or under orders

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

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

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

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

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.

two times

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

morally offensive

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

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

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading PISTOLS FOR TWO--COFFEE FOR ONE Val braced himself against the back of the roadster's seat and struggled to hold the car to a road which was hardly more than a cart track.

which person or people

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading A spur of this unsavory no-man's land ran close along the road, and looking into it one could almost believe, fancied Val, in the legends told by the early French explorers concerning the giant monsters who were supposed to haunt the swamps and wild lands at the mouth of the Mississippi.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading To the south lay the old cypress swamps, dark glens of rotting wood and sprawling vines.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading Twice since Ricky and he had left Pirate's Haven they had narrowly escaped being bogged in the mud which had worked up through the thin crust of gravel on the surface.

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

From this reading He would not have been surprised to see a brontosaurus peeking coyly down at him from twenty feet or so of neck.