Chapter II

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

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

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

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

(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 Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

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

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

the act of blending components together thoroughly

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

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

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

comparative of “calm” — not agitated; without losing self-possession

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

put or send forth

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

plural of “circle” — ellipse in which the two axes are of equal length; a plane curve generated by one point moving at a constant distance from a fixed point

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

past form of “confront” — oppose, as in hostility or a competition

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

United States industrialist who built the first American locomotive; founded Cooper Union in New York City to offer free courses in the arts and sciences (1791-1883)

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

demanding attention

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

A series of thoughts, images, or emotions during sleep.

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

lighted by or as if by twilight

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

set up or found

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

brought together in one place

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

destroyed or killed

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

hold firmly

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

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

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

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

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

in a hysterical manner

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

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

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

plural of “lantern” — light in a transparent protective case

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

the force of workers available

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

threatening or foreshadowing evil or tragic developments

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

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

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

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

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

above your head; in the sky

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

in the near future

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

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

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

cut with a saw

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

marked by or emitting or filled with smoke

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

in or at or to some place

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

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

From this reading But the grasp on his neck--it was big John Alden, the cooper from Southampton, who had dragged him out into the great cabin--was real, and so, he now found, were the faces of the men who confronted him.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

having a supporting base

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

excited by sudden surprise or alarm and making a quick involuntary movement

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

not in physical motion

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

thrown into a state of intense fear or desperation

From this reading Miles saw about him all the faces, terrified or menacing, but it was blurrily, as in a dream.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

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

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

displeasing to the senses

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

precisely as stated

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.

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

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

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

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

during the time that

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

a Caucasian

From this reading THE NAME OF MILES IN the great cabin two huge, smoky lanterns, that swayed from the beams overhead, cast blending white circles in the middle space, while the corners still remained dusky.

which person or people

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Somewhere, there in the dark, a woman was crying hysterically, and others, calmer, but with startled, white faces, were standing beyond the group of men, who were gathered round the door of the Billingtons' cabin.

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

From this reading He kept telling himself it was all a dream, an ugly dream, and presently he would awake to find he had never gone with Francis Billington, and very glad he would be to awake so.