Chapter I

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

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

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

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

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

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

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

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE BOY AVIATORS,” “DREADNOUGHT BOYS,” ETC.

plural of “aviator” — someone who operates an aircraft

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE BOY AVIATORS,” “DREADNOUGHT BOYS,” ETC.

an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

past form of “beach” — land on a beach

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

a youthful male person

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE BOY AVIATORS,” “DREADNOUGHT BOYS,” ETC.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE BOY AVIATORS,” “DREADNOUGHT BOYS,” ETC.

two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on both masts

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

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

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

the skilled practice of a practical occupation

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

plural of “daniel” — (Old Testament) a youth who was taken into the court of Nebuchadnezzar and given divine protection when thrown into a den of lions (6th century BC)

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

marked by a painfully slow and effortful manner

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

battleship that has big guns all of the same caliber

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE BOY AVIATORS,” “DREADNOUGHT BOYS,” ETC.

being one more than seventeen

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE BOY AVIATORS,” “DREADNOUGHT BOYS,” ETC.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

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

From this reading A few lay loose, and those he flung out on the beach.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading A few lay loose, and those he flung out on the beach.

worn away or tattered along the edges

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

brought together in one place

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

scraped or touched lightly in passing

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

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

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

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

From this reading A few lay loose, and those he flung out on the beach.

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

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

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

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

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

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

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

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

(Yiddish) a big shot who knows it and acts that way; a boastful immoderate person

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

a boy or man

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading A few lay loose, and those he flung out on the beach.

to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

flesh of a lobster

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

not compact or dense in structure or arrangement

From this reading A few lay loose, and those he flung out on the beach.

the trade of cutting or preparing or selling timber

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

wood of any of various mahogany trees; much used for cabinetwork and furniture

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

a state in New England

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

the time between one event, process, or period and another

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE BOY AVIATORS,” “DREADNOUGHT BOYS,” ETC.

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

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

out of fashion

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading A few lay loose, and those he flung out on the beach.

an artist who paints

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

a small contrasting part of something

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

a collection of objects laid on top of each other

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

plural of “pot” — metal or earthenware cooking vessel that is usually round and deep; often has a handle and lid

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

preceding and preparing for something

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

having shoulders or shoulders as specified; usually used as a combining form

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

a male human offspring

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

cross one's eyes as if in strabismus

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF “THE BOY AVIATORS,” “DREADNOUGHT BOYS,” ETC.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

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

From this reading A few lay loose, and those he flung out on the beach.

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

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

a bunch of hair or feathers or growing grass

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

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

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

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

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

a very small distance or space

From this reading In the meantime Zenas himself, brown and hatchetlike of face, and lean of figure—with a tuft of gray whisker on his sharp chin, like an old-fashioned knocker on a mahogany door—gathered up a pile of lobster pots from the stern of the dory and shouldered them.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

covered with growing trees and bushes etc

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.

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

From this reading His son Zeb, a lumbering, uncouth-looking lad of about eighteen, with a pronounced squint, leaped from the craft as it was beached, and seized hold of the frayed painter preparatory to dragging her farther up the beach.

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

From this reading The sharp bow of Zenas Daniels’ green and red dory grazed the yellow beach on the west shore of Brig Island, a wooded patch of land lying about a mile off the Maine Shore in the vicinity of Casco Bay.