Chapter II

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

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

in an active manner

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

(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 I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

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

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

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

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

plural of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

one of a set of small pieces of stiff paper marked in various ways and used for playing games or for telling fortunes

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

serenely self-possessed and free from agitation especially in times of stress

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

past form of “create” — make or cause to be or to become

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

an artistic form of nonverbal communication

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

plural of “description” — a statement that represents something in words

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

separated in space or coming from or going to a distance

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

one or the other of two

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

destroyed or killed

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

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

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

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

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

the apparent surface of the imaginary sphere on which celestial bodies appear to be projected

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

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

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

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

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

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

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

Recollections of past events.

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

not caught with the senses or the mind

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

relating to or involving ships or shipping or navigation or seamen

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

possessive form of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

many times at short intervals

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

owed as a debt

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

reception room in an inn or club where visitors can be received

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

narrate or give a detailed account of

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

located far away spatially

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

no longer active in your work or profession

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

plural of “sailor” — any member of a ship's crew

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

express in words

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

possessive form of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

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 I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

of high or superior quality or performance

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

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

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading HER MEMORIES I missed my father out of my life as though the sun had gone out of the heavens.

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

From this reading I had been far more of a companion to him than my mother.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

past form of “venerate” — regard with feelings of respect and reverence; consider hallowed or exalted or be in awe of

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

the activity of making visits

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

at the time that

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

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

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading The company he kept was nearly wholly composed of sailors, sea captains, either retired or actively employed.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

plural of “wonder” — the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.

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

From this reading My mother would often be out visiting, passing an evening at a card party, or at a dance at some neighbour’s when our parlour, which was long and wide, but low-ceiled, like a ship’s cabin, would be half-full of father’s nautical friends.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading I had venerated him as something superior to all created beings; which, I dare say, was not a little owing to his stories of the sea, to the various wonders he was able to recount, and to his descriptions of distant lands, as remote as the stars to my young imagination.