Chapter IX · Rodney Is Astonished

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

be present or associated with an event or entity

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

any specific behavior

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

changed in order to improve or made more fit for a particular purpose

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

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

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

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

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The great bend at Napoleon is a notable example.

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

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

form a curve

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

command with authority

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

an item of information that is typical of a class or group

From this reading The great bend at Napoleon is a notable example.

the feeling of lively and cheerful joy

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

many times at short intervals

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

the act of departing

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

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

From this reading The great bend at Napoleon is a notable example.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

winged monster with the head of an eagle and the body of a lion

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

plural of “guerilla” — a member of an irregular armed force that fights a stronger force by sabotage and harassment

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

involving risk or danger

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

a New York river; flows southward into New York Bay; explored by Henry Hudson early in the 17th century

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

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

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

made greater in size or amount or degree

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

past form of “infest” — invade in great numbers

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

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

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

a small worthless amount

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

the capital and largest city situated centrally in Spain; home of an outstanding art museum

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

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 The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

French general who became emperor of the French (1769-1821)

From this reading The great bend at Napoleon is a notable example.

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

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

not any; not one

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

not one, and not any

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading The great bend at Napoleon is a notable example.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

the quantity of a crop that is harvested

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

affording satisfaction or pleasure

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

a place (seaport or airport) where people and merchandise can enter or leave a country

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

any member of a ship's crew

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

filled with satisfaction

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

any nonverbal action or gesture that encodes a message

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

a clam that is usually steamed in the shell

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

carry out

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

buying or selling securities or commodities

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

travel across or pass over

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading Frequently the distance a steamer has to traverse in going around a bend is from twelve to thirty times greater than it is in a direct line across the country.

(used of persons or the military) not having or using arms

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

a town in western Mississippi on bluffs above the Mississippi River to the west of Jackson

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

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

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

at the time that

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

in or to any place at all

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.

which person or people

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He was as well satisfied as Ned Griffin was that the fall of Vicksburg and Port Hudson would be the signal for instant and increased activity among the guerillas who infested the country as far up as New Madrid, and that picking up cotton along the river with an unarmed boat would be a hazardous undertaking.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading The Mississippi is the most tortuous of rivers, and there is none in the world better adapted to guerilla warfare.

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

From this reading Rodney Gray had promised himself no end of pleasurable excitement when his sailor cousin returned to take command of a trading boat on the river, for he had made up his mind that he would accompany Jack wherever he went.