Chapter XXII

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

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

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

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

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

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

English botanist who accompanied Captain Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific Ocean (1743-1820)

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

the soft brown fur of the beaver

From this reading BEAVER HUNTERS.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

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

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

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

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

United States literary critic and historian (1886-1963)

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

possessive form of “carpenter” — a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

originate

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

plural of “family” — a social unit living together

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

past form of “fell” — cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

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

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

set up or found

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

usually; as a rule

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

reflecting light

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

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

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

plural of “habit” — an established custom

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

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

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

a large number or amount

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game

From this reading BEAVER HUNTERS.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

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

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

used to form the superlative

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

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

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

the property possessed by a sum or total or indefinite quantity of units or individuals

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

amounting to a large indefinite number

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

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

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

(used informally) completely unclothed

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

on the contrary

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

cut with a saw

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

plural of “settler” — a person who settles in a new colony or moves into new country

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

do one's shopping

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

small or little relative to something else

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

in the near future

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

wood in small pieces or splinters

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

plural of “stream” — a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading These most interesting animals generally settle on the smaller streams and brooks, and their families at first consist of but few members.

having only essential or minimal features

From this reading The splinters lay in heaps round the bitten-through trees, as if we had been in a carpenter's shop, and many of the felled trees had been stripped of their branches.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

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

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

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 We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

not knowledgeable about something specified

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

belonging to which person

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

in the company of; together with

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading We left our camp at a rather early hour, and soon found below it numerous signs of beaver trees, a foot and a half in diameter, lay with a great number of smaller ones along the banks of the stream, and farther in the wood we saw trees glistening whose bark had been peeled off several feet above the ground.

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

From this reading Any one unacquainted with these animals and their habits would surely have believed that new settlers had been busy here, and cut down wood for their block houses.