Chapter XX

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

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

(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 JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

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

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

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

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

plural of “attack” — (military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons)

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

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

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

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

From this reading How then could he proceed?

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

past form of “deliberate” — think about carefully; weigh

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

take in liquids

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

one or the other of two

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

past form of “expend” — use up, consume fully

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

expose or make accessible to some action or influence

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

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

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

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

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

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

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

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

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

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

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

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

From this reading How then could he proceed?

the quality of being impenetrable (by people or light or missiles etc.)

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

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

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

a location marked by an intense competition and struggle for survival

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

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

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

attach to a support

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

reflect deeply on a subject

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

a solid substance in the form of tiny loose particles; a solid that has been pulverized

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

continue talking

From this reading How then could he proceed?

filled with bewilderment

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

be seated

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

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

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

not in physical motion

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

express in words

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

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

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading How then could he proceed?

plural of “thief” — a criminal who takes property belonging to someone else with the intention of keeping it or selling it

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

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

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

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

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

lacking in security or safety

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

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

From this reading JUNGLE THIEVES It was easy to sit down, and easy to ponder the question, but any decision at all was another matter.

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 To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

at the time that

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

in or at the place that

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

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

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading But to remain still was quite as unsafe, for he had but a small quantity of powder and shot; and when this was expended, would be wholly at the mercy of savage animals.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading To mount the hills was impossible, from the impenetrability of the jungle; to follow a stream was to expose himself to the attacks of wild beasts coming to the water to drink.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.

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

From this reading All the thinking in the world would not tell him either where he was or which way he ought to go; and the more he deliberated, the more puzzled he became.