Chapter XXIV · Chapter 24

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

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

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

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

move forward, also in the metaphorical sense

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

a state in northwestern North America; the 49th state admitted to the union

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

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

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

the psychological state of being irritated or annoyed

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

the regions to the north of the Arctic Circle centered on the North Pole

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

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

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

approximating the statistical norm or average or expected value

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

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

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

Danish explorer who explored the northern Pacific Ocean for the Russians and discovered the Bering Strait (1681-1741)

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

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

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

a strip of land projecting into a body of water

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

the shore of a sea or ocean

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

without stop or interruption

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

causing fear or dread or terror

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

lying toward or situated in the east

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

an imaginary line around the Earth forming the great circle that is equidistant from the north and south poles

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

a fortified military post where troops are stationed

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

a brittle transparent solid with irregular atomic structure

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

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

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

made warm or hot (“het” is a dialectal variant of “heated”)

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

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

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

ten 10s

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

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

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

plural of “inquiry” — a search for knowledge

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

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

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

immediately past

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

the angular distance between an imaginary line around a heavenly body parallel to its equator and the equator itself

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

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

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

a compact mass

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

engage in

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

not any; not one

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

and nothing more

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

the largest ocean in the world

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

a natural elevation (especially a rocky one that juts out into the sea)

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

-ing form of “retain” — hold back within

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

Identical; not different.

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

move hurridly

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

not in physical motion

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The speed of the current seemed to be less here than in the eastern part of the Arctic Ocean, but the island continued to advance, and, much to Hobson’s annoyance, towards the dreaded Behring Strait.

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

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

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

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

in the direction of

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

being four more than twenty

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

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

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

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

From this reading return to the fort, was to make inquiries of Thomas Black as to the situation of the little colony.

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 It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

relating to or characteristic of the western parts of the world or the West as opposed to the eastern or oriental parts

From this reading It was now at the same distance from the equator as Icy Cape, a little promontory of western Alaska, and two hundred miles from the American coast.

in or at the place that

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading No change had taken place for the last twenty-four hours, but, as subsequently appeared, the island had floated one degree of latitude further south, whilst still retaining its motion towards the west.

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

From this reading It was now only the 24th July, and a current of average speed would carry it in another month through the strait and into the heated waves of the Pacific, where it would melt “like a lump of sugar in a glass of water.”