Chapter VIII · Gege-Merak

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

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

having companions or an escort

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

commonly used or practiced; usual

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

plural of “advisor” — an expert who gives advice

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

later than; following

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

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

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

a member of a Semitic people originally from the Arabian peninsula and surrounding territories who speaks Arabic and who inhabits much of the Middle East and northern Africa

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

the Semitic language of the Arabs; spoken in a variety of dialects

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

towards the shore from the water

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

expected hopefully

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

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

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

happiness felt in a secure relationship

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

eat an early morning meal

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

of short duration or distance

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

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

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

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

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

with the legs crossed

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

cause to be slowed down or delayed

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

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

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

plural of “dwelling” — housing that someone is living in

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

high status importance owing to marked superiority

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

plural of “friend” — a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

a relatively small granular particle of a substance

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

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

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

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

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

having much knowledge or education

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

owning or consisting of land or real estate

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

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 At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

a thick flat pad used as a floor covering

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

water soaked soil; soft wet earth

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

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

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

paying close attention especially to details

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

the inner surface of the hand from the wrist to the base of the fingers

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

a course of conduct

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

in the near future

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

belonging to an early stage of technical development; characterized by simplicity and (often) crudeness

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

the original amount of a debt on which interest is calculated

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

past form of “proceed” — continue talking

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

someone who is a member of the faculty at a college or university

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

wharf usually built parallel to the shoreline

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

past form of “row” — propel with oars

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

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

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

the leader of an Arab village or family

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

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

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

very large in expanse or scope

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

having a supporting base

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

plural of “storehouse” — a depository for goods

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

confined on all sides

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

past form of “thatch” — cover with thatch

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

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

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

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

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

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

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

fully apprehended as to purport or meaning or explanation

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

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

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

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

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

past form of “usher” — take (someone) to their seats, as in theaters or auditoriums

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

any creative group active in the innovation and application of new concepts and techniques in a given field (especially in the arts)

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

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

From this reading After a brief delay we were ushered into a low but spacious room where the light was so dim that at first I could see nothing.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

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

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

an old word meaning “from where”

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.

in or at the place that

From this reading At the left of the town were several large storehouses belonging to the government, where tithes of grain were kept.

having hair on the cheeks and chin

From this reading Presently, however, my eyes grew accustomed to the gloom and I made out a big, whiskered Arab sitting cross-legged on a mat and surrounded by a group of friends and advisors.

which person or people

From this reading A silent but observant group of natives met us on shore and accompanied us up the path to one of the principal houses, where Van Dorn, who understood Arabic, informed us the sheik and cadi awaited our coming.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading After breakfast Uncle Naboth, the Professor, and I rowed ashore and landed on the primitive wooden quay, whence we proceeded to the town—a group of mud dwellings, palm thatched, standing on a small eminence near the bay.