Chapter XIV · Chapter 14

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

form a curl, curve, or kink

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

in accordance with convention or custom

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "What shall we do, Shaddy?" whispered Rob.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

opinion or judgment

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

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

From this reading "Why, that must be nearly sixty feet long."

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading "It's nearer two foot long, Mr Rob, sir.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

plural of “haunt” — a frequently visited place

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading "It's nearer two foot long, Mr Rob, sir.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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 "Why, that must be nearly sixty feet long."

increase in size, volume or significance

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

a form of address for a man

From this reading "It's nearer two foot long, Mr Rob, sir.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "Why, that must be nearly sixty feet long."

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading "It's nearer two foot long, Mr Rob, sir.

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

From this reading "Why, that must be nearly sixty feet long."

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

possessive form of “people” — (plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

having a point

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

take something away by force or without the consent of the owner

From this reading "What shall we do, Shaddy?" whispered Rob.

made afraid

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading "What shall we do, Shaddy?" whispered Rob.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading "What shall we do, Shaddy?" whispered Rob.

term of address for a man

From this reading "It's nearer two foot long, Mr Rob, sir.

being ten more than fifty

From this reading "Why, that must be nearly sixty feet long."

not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

moving slowly

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

past form of “subside” — wear off or die down

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Why, that must be nearly sixty feet long."

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

up to a particular time

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

hard to endure

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading "It's nearer two foot long, Mr Rob, sir.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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 He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "What shall we do, Shaddy?" whispered Rob.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What shall we do, Shaddy?" whispered Rob.

at the time that

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

in or at the place that

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading "What shall we do, Shaddy?" whispered Rob.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "Why, that must be nearly sixty feet long."

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading My word! how people's eyes do magnify when they're a bit scared."

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

From this reading He pointed now to where a huge serpent was worming its way about the boughs of one of the trees in a slow, sluggish way, as if trying to find a spot where it could curl up and be at rest till the water, which had driven it from its customary haunts, had subsided.