Chapter XVI · Chapter 16

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

on or to one side

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

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

From this reading "Too fine for a fish net--must be a bird net.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading "Too fine for a fish net--must be a bird net.

possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

past form of “chance” — be the case by chance

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

a steep high face of rock

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

past form of “comment” — make or write a comment on

From this reading "It's a net," he commented.

the act of discovering something

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

consider in detail and subject to an analysis in order to discover essential features or meaning

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

opinion or judgment

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading "Too fine for a fish net--must be a bird net.

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

From this reading "Too fine for a fish net--must be a bird net.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "Too fine for a fish net--must be a bird net.

having unexpected good fortune

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading That'd be good luck for us if it were summer.

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

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading That'd be good luck for us if it were summer.

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

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

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

From this reading "It's a net," he commented.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

a projecting ridge on a mountain or submerged under water

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading That'd be good luck for us if it were summer.

the property of a body that causes it to have weight in a gravitational field

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading "Too fine for a fish net--must be a bird net.

a computer network consisting of a worldwide network of computer networks that use the TCP/IP network protocols to facilitate data transmission and exchange

From this reading "It's a net," he commented.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

the 21st letter of the Greek alphabet

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

extending out above or beyond a surface or boundary

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

Identical; not different.

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

covered with snow

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

inflected form of “step” — shift or move by taking a step

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading That'd be good luck for us if it were summer.

express a supposition

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

a relatively flat highland

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

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

From this reading That'd be good luck for us if it were summer.

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading "Too fine for a fish net--must be a bird net.

the upper part of anything

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

not even or uniform as e.g. in shape or texture

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading That'd be good luck for us if it were summer.

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.

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

From this reading A FORTUNATE DISCOVERY As Phi and his dog reached the top of the cliff and were about to step upon the uneven, snow-covered tableland which lay before them, the boy's eyes chanced to light upon a strange looking brown mass which lay on the rock beneath the shelter of a projecting ledge.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "What do you suppose that is?" he said to the dog, at the same time stepping aside to examine it.