Chapter XXVI · Chapter 26

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

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

-ing form of “afford” — be able to spare or give up

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

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

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

plural of “beam” — a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

huge; relating to or characteristic of the imaginary country of Brobdingnag

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

of large size for its weight

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

plural of “chink” — (ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

the act of chipping something

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

stopped up; clogged up

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

past form of “climb” — go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

brick that is laid sideways at the top of a wall

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

marked by features of the immediate and usually discounted past

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

serving to describe or inform or characterized by description

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

the length of a straight line passing through the center of a circle and connecting two points on the circumference

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

many and different

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

controlled or ruled by superior authority or power

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

inflected form of “drag” — pull, as against a resistance

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

divisible by two

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

a journey by a large group to escape from a hostile environment

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

something many people believe that is false

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

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

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

an area in hostile territory that has been captured and is held awaiting further troops and supplies

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

a person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

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

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

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

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

(usually plural) the office that serves as the administrative center of an enterprise

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

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

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

inflected form of “hide” — prevent from being seen or discovered

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

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

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

made greater in size or amount or degree

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

an expanse of scenery that can be seen in a single view

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

the literary culture

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

structure built of stone or brick by a mason

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

the message that is intended or expressed or signified

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

move about in a confused manner

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

(figurative) something that hinders or handicaps

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

common name for an edible agaric (contrasting with the inedible toadstool)

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

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

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

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

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

covered with a firm surface

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

plural of “pioneer” — someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

a raised horizontal surface

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

by chance

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

the act of physically reaching or thrusting out

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

sturdy and strong in form, constitution, or construction

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

covered with or consisting of rust

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

a space reserved for sitting (as in a theater or on a train or airplane)

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

get by special effort

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

in a secure manner; in a manner free from danger

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

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

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

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

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

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

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

from that place or that time

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There may have been a mill on the farm in the old days.

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

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

the upper part of anything

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

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

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

the topmost one of two

From this reading The lower millstone paved the hearth, the upper, the diameter of its shaft-hole increased by chipping to the size of a musk-melon, had been set by some freak of the farmer-architect's heavy fancy as a coping on the top of the big stone shaft.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.

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

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

which person or people

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

(politics) a state of disfavor

From this reading Or possibly, meaning to build one, those robust pioneers of the Second Exodus had dragged the two huge stones into the wilderness, and then abandoned their plan.

to move in a twisting or contorted motion, (especially when struggling)

From this reading The wide black throat of the chimney half-way up was choked by a platform of beams and masonry, reaching not quite across, so that even a bulky man who had climbed up--divers rusty iron stanchions driven in between the stones, and certain chinks affording secure foothold--might wriggle between the platform and the chimney-wall, and so lie hid securely.

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

From this reading From thence, as Lady Hannah Wrynche had said in one of her descriptive letters, dated from "My Headquarters at the Seat of War," it dominated the landscape as a Brobdingnagian stone mushroom might have done.