Chapter XXXIX · Chapter 39

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

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

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

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

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

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

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

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

a ravine formed by a river in an area with little rainfall

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

plural of “chance” — a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

something (such as money) given or received as payment or reparation (as for a service or loss or injury)

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

small wolf native to western North America

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

inflected form of “cram” — crowd or pack to capacity

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

the first light of day

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

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

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

a state of misfortune or affliction

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

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

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

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

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

plural of “joy” — the emotion of great happiness

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

immediately past

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

the officer below the master on a commercial ship

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

an advocate of the doctrine that the world can be understood in scientific terms

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

above and across; more than

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

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

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

the stealing of cattle

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

thrown together in a disorderly fashion

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

the state of being asleep

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

superlative of “small” — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

past form of “smile” — change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

plural of “sorrow” — an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

take without the owner's consent

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

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

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

the one or ones belonging to them

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

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

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

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

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

free from physical or moral spots or stains

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

loud cries made while weeping

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

a person who is regarded as treacherous or sneaky

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

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

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

at the time that

From this reading WHEN NATURE SMILED It seems a law that every deep valley must be next a high mountain.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading Those last few days, unmarred of the smallest hardship, were one long pearl-string of the things I came for--the chances to see and be among wild life.

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

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Our sorrows ended when we quit the canyon, and then, as though in compensation, nature crammed the days with the small joys that seem so little and mean so much to the naturalist.

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

From this reading Each night the Coyote and the Fox came rustling about our camp, or the Weasel and Woodmouse scrambled over our sleeping forms.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading Each morning at gray dawn, gray Wiskajon and his mate--always a pair came wailing through the woods, to flirt about the camp and steal scraps of meat that needed not to be stolen, being theirs by right.