Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

in actual fact

From this reading It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though Julius took it all so seriously.

willing to undertake or seeking out new and daring enterprises

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

later than; following

From this reading Thad Stevens followed with a chuckle, after his peculiar fashion.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

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

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

a declaration that is made emphatically (as if no supporting evidence were necessary)

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

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

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

a geological formation consisting of an underground enclosure with access from the surface of the ground or from the sea

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

a soft partly suppressed laugh

From this reading Thad Stevens followed with a chuckle, after his peculiar fashion.

plural of “cliff” — a steep high face of rock

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

a relation between things or events (as in the case of one causing the other or sharing features with it)

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

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

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

made known or openly avowed

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

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

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

past form of “excavate” — recover through digging

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Thad Stevens followed with a chuckle, after his peculiar fashion.

plural of “fellow” — a boy or man

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though Julius took it all so seriously.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Thad Stevens followed with a chuckle, after his peculiar fashion.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

set up or found

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

plutonic igneous rock having visibly crystalline texture; generally composed of feldspar and mica and quartz

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

shockingly repellent; inspiring horror

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

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

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

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

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

plural of “hole” — an opening into or through something

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

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

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

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

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

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

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

the basic unit of thermodynamic temperature adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though Julius took it all so seriously.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though Julius took it all so seriously.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

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

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

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 In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

on one occasion

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Thad Stevens followed with a chuckle, after his peculiar fashion.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

a person who is the aim of an attack (especially a victim of ridicule or exploitation) by some hostile person or influence

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

English chemist noted for his studies of molecular structures in plants (1886-1975)

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

without respect; in a disdainful manner

From this reading It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though Julius took it all so seriously.

worthless people

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

in a serious manner

From this reading It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though Julius took it all so seriously.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

United States psychologist and psychophysicist who proposed Stevens' power law to replace Fechner's law (1906-1973)

From this reading Thad Stevens followed with a chuckle, after his peculiar fashion.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

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

From this reading Thad Stevens followed with a chuckle, after his peculiar fashion.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

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

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though Julius took it all so seriously.

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

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading It was K. K. who laughed first, actually laughed scornfully, though Julius took it all so seriously.

of imposing height; especially standing out above others

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

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

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

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

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

a black garment (dress) worn by a widow as a sign of mourning

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

at the time that

From this reading When Julius made this assertion, the other fellows looked at each other in what might be said to be a queer way.

in or at the place that

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

which person or people

From this reading Some adventurous boys who went out there once declared it was a most gruesome place, with pools of water covered with green scum lying around, and all sorts of holes looking like the cave Robinson Crusoe found on his island home to be seen where granite building rocks had been excavated from the towering cliffs.

in the company of; together with

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.

a late time of life

From this reading In fact, they had all heard certain absurd stories told in connection with the old quarry that had not been worked for so many years that the road leading to it across country had grown up in grass and weeds.