Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

(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 The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

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

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

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

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

the lower side of anything

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

made smooth and bright by or as if by rubbing; reflecting a sheen or glow

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

a steep high face of rock

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

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

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

having or marked by a curve or smoothly rounded bend

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

plural of “distance” — the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

divisible by two

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

the motion characteristic of fluids (liquids or gases)

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

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

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

having no limits or boundaries in time or space or extent or magnitude

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

plural of “jewel” — a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

a small natural hill

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

sit or recline comfortably

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

softly bright or radiant

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

a surface coating for ceramics or porcelain

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

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

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

polished surface that forms images by reflecting light

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

the world's longest river (4150 miles); flows northward through eastern Africa into the Mediterranean; the Nile River valley in Egypt was the site of the world's first great civilization

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

plural of “officer” — any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

above your head; in the sky

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

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

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

plural of “planet” — (astronomy) any of the nine large celestial bodies in the solar system that revolve around the sun and shine by reflected light

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

inflected form of “rob” — take something away by force or without the consent of the owner

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

third-person singular of “sharpen” — make sharp or sharper

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

inflected form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

without speaking

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

moving slowly

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

small or little relative to something else

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

(used especially of meats and fish) dried and cured by hanging in wood smoke

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

having a sharp inclination

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The moon was at its full, and the strong light had robbed even the planets of their lustre.

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

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

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

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

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

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

gully or streambed in northern Africa and the Middle East that remains dry except during rainy season

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

clean by virtue of having been washed in water

From this reading The smaller stars were not visible at all, and the sky washed of its dark colour, curved overhead, pearly-hued and luminous.

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

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.

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

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

during the time that

From this reading The three officers sat in their lounge chairs and smoked silently, while the bull-frogs croaked from an island in mid-river.

a Caucasian

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

in the company of; together with

From this reading At the bottom of the small steep cliff on which they sat the Nile, so sluggish was its flow, shone like a burnished mirror, and from the opposite bank the desert stretched away to infinite distances, a vast plain with scattered hummocks, a plain white as a hoar frost on the surface of which the stones sparkled like jewels.

the basic human power of intelligent thought and perception

From this reading DURRANCE SHARPENS HIS WITS It was a night of May, and outside the mess-room at Wadi Halfa three officers were smoking on a grass knoll above the Nile.