Chapter XVI · At the Bottom of the River

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

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

past form of “add” — make an addition (to); join or combine or unite with others; increase the quality, quantity, size or scope of

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

past form of “administer” — work in an administrative capacity; supervise or be in charge of

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

(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 They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

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

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

marked by assurance; exhibiting confidence

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

formed or made thin by hammering

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

a cruelly rapacious person

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

plural of “chill” — coldness due to a cold environment

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

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

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

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

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

(psychology) an erroneous belief that is held in the face of evidence to the contrary

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

properly deserved

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

plural of “enemy” — an opposing military force

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

divisible by two

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

a social unit living together

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

destroyed or killed

From this reading But Jake and Sam had gone away with the intention of staying away.

plural of “guide” — someone employed to conduct others

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

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

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading But Jake and Sam had gone away with the intention of staying away.

a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

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

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

the quality of being just or fair

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

lacking natural ease

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

immediately past

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

the property of having little or no contrast; lacking highlights or gloss

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

under a moral obligation to do something

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

and nothing more

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

above and across; more than

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

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

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

the act of punishing

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

act of turning to for assistance

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

to an ample degree or in an ample manner

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

used of the degree of something undesirable e.g. pain or weather

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

and nothing more

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

-ing form of “stay” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading But Jake and Sam had gone away with the intention of staying away.

believed likely

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

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

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.

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

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

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

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

at any time that; every time that

From this reading They were afraid of their brute of a father, and the cold chills crept all over them whenever they thought of the New London jail.

beating with a whip or strap or rope as a form of punishment

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading They could not see the justice of being beaten or locked up for something they did not do, and the only recourse they had was to go to those whom they had been taught to regard as their enemies—the guides and the officers of the law.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading He labored under the delusion that Jake and Sam had run away simply to escape the punishment they so richly deserved; but they had only made a bad matter worse, Matt told himself, for they would be obliged to return sooner or later, and then they might rest assured the promised whipping would be administered with added severity.

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

From this reading Matt Coyle would have been utterly confounded if he had known, or even suspected, how completely his family had been broken up by the events of the last few days.