Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

periodically accumulated over time

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

later than; following

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

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

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

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

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

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

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

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

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

plural of “complication” — the act or process of complicating

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

with confidence; in a confident manner

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

an open clash between two opposing groups (or individuals)

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

drive around aimlessly but ostentatiously and at leisure

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

the act of departing

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

plural of “entanglement” — an intricate trap that entangles or ensnares its victim

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

divisible by two

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

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

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

a social unit living together

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

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

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

(comparative of “few” used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

referring to the first of two things or persons mentioned (or the earlier one or ones of several)

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

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

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

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

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

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

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

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

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

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

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

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

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

with indifference; in an indifferent manner

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

having much knowledge or education

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

the literary culture

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

plural of “newspaper” — a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

not any; not one

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

and nothing more

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

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

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

past form of “plunge” — thrust or throw into

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

involving or characteristic of politics or parties or politicians

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

gradual improvement or growth or development

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

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

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

make a low noise

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

past form of “scout” — explore, often with the goal of finding something or somebody

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

an Austrian school of art and architecture parallel to the French art nouveau in the 1890s

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

transport commercially

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

in or characteristic of a region of the United States south of (approximately) the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

plural of “state” — the territory occupied by one of the constituent administrative districts of a nation

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

past form of “style” — designate by an identifying term

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

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

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

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

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

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

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

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

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

characterized by unity; being or joined into a single entity

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

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

From this reading Captain Passford had been the master of a ship in former times, though he had accumulated his vast fortune after he abandoned the sea.

precisely as stated

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

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

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

at the time that

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

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

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

which person or people

From this reading Captain Passford was one of those who confidently believed that no very serious difficulty would result from the entanglements into which the country had been plunged by the secession of the most of the Southern States.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He would not admit even to himself that war was possible; and before his departure he had scouted the idea of a conflict with arms between the brothers of the North and the brothers of the South, as he styled them.

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

From this reading Even five months before, when the Bellevite had sailed on her cruise, the rumble of coming events had been heard in the United States; and it had been an open question whether or not war would grow out of the complications between the North and the South.

an expensive vessel propelled by sail or power and used for cruising or racing

From this reading Only a few letters, and fewer newspapers, had reached the owner of the yacht; and he and his family on board had been very indifferently informed in regard to the progress of political events at home.