Chapter I · Chapter 1

later than; following

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

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

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

plural of “bench” — a long seat for more than one person

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

superlative of “big” — above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

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

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

a youthful male person

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

fossil fuel consisting of carbonized vegetable matter deposited in the Carboniferous period

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

tiny lobster-like crustaceans usually boiled briefly

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

plural of “creek” — a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

plural of “diamond” — a transparent piece of diamond that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

turn up, loosen, or remove earth

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

an udder or breast or teat

From this reading And Jason had dug.

divisible by two

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

set up or found

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

a specialist in geology

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

destroyed or killed

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

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

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

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

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

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

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

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

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

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

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

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

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

(Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

immediately past

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

plural of “lip” — either of two fleshy folds of tissue that surround the mouth and play a role in speaking

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

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

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

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

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

and nothing more

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

select carefully from a group

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

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

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

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

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

a particular branch of scientific knowledge

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

marked by exceptional merit

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

that is looked for

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

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

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

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

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

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

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

very small

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

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

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

past form of “trail” — to lag or linger behind

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

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

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.

a blood vessel that carries blood from the capillaries toward the heart

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

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

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

look attentively

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

in or at the place that

From this reading He had trailed after the man of science along the benches of the mountains where coal beds lie.

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

From this reading He had learned to watch the beds of little creeks for the shining tell-tale black bits, and even the tiny mouths of crawfish holes, on the lips of which they sometimes lay.

during the time that

From this reading And the biggest treasure in the hills little Jason had found himself; for only on the last day before the rock-pecker had gone away, the two had found signs of another vein, and the geologist had given his own pick to the boy and told him to dig, while he was gone, for himself.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With him he had sought the roots of upturned trees and the beds of little creeks and the gray faces of "rock-houses" for signs of the black diamonds.