Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

aimlessly drifting

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

(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 All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

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

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

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

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

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

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

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

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

towards the shore from the water

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

the act of breaking something

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

lacking grace in movement or posture

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

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

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

the skilled practice of a practical occupation

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

to a great depth psychologically or emotionally

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

the act of enclosing something inside something else

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

divisible by two

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

with no protection or shield

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

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

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

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

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

utter a sound, as with obvious effort

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

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

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

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

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

the mechanical advantage gained by being in a position to use a lever

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

plural of “lever” — a rigid bar pivoted about a fulcrum

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

superlative of “mere” — being nothing more than specified

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

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

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

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

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

an artist who paints

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

kick the ball

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

a roll of hair brushed back from the forehead

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

(botany) the usually underground organ that lacks buds or leaves or nodes; absorbs water and mineral salts; usually it anchors the plant to the ground

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

a strong line

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

very bad

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

an unvarying or habitual method or procedure

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

only a very short time before

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

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

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

protected from danger or bad weather

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

-ing form of “shelve” — hold back to a later time

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

plural of “shoal” — a sandbank in a stretch of water that is visible at low tide

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

superlative of “slight” — (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with “a”) at least some

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

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

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

having a sharp inclination

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

not in physical motion

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

abounding in rocks or stones

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

(especially of weather) affected or characterized by storms or commotion

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

dependable

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

a pattern forming a unity within a larger structural whole

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading All our strength and the leverage of the sculls could scarcely move her, so much had she settled.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

waves breaking on the shore

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

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

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

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

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

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

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

(from 16th to 19th centuries) gates set across a road to prevent passage until a toll had been paid

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

precisely as stated

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

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

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

(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 THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

at the time that

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

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

From this reading THE OLD PUNT: A CURIOUS “TURNPIKE” The sculls of our punt, being short and stout, answered very well as levers to heave the clumsy old craft off the sand into which it sank so deeply.

(of hair) having lost its color

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix

From this reading It was the merest routine to carry the painter ashore and twist the rotten rope round an exposed root of the great willow tree; for there was not the slightest chance of that ancient craft breaking adrift.

in the company of; together with

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading There was a projecting bar almost enclosing the creek, which was quite still, even when the surf whitened the stony strand without, driven before a wet and stormy south-wester.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading That sheltered corner of the mere, with a shelving sandy shore, and a steep bank behind covered with trees, was one of the best places to fish for roach: you could see them playing under the punt in shoals any sunny day.