Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

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

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

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

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

comparative of “black” — 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 tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

a path over which electrical signals can pass

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

make overcast or cloudy

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The sun was going down on the Dedlow Marshes.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The sun was going down on the Dedlow Marshes.

coming down freely under the influence of gravity

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

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

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

plural of “ember” — a hot fragment of wood or coal that is left from a fire and is glowing or smoldering

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

weakening in force or intensity

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

inflected form of “fan” — strike out (a batter), (of a pitcher)

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

the part of a scene that is near the viewer

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

an alert and refreshed state

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

the act of departing

From this reading The sun was going down on the Dedlow Marshes.

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

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

set afire

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

plural of “lagoon” — a body of water cut off from a larger body by a reef of sand or coral

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

the act of departing

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

plural of “marsh” — low-lying wet land with grassy vegetation; usually is a transition zone between land and water

From this reading The sun was going down on the Dedlow Marshes.

come together

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

a particular point in time

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The sun was going down on the Dedlow Marshes.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

the largest ocean in the world

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

plural of “pool” — an excavation that is (usually) filled with water

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

plural of “puff” — a short light gust of air

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

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

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

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

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

(of winds) coming from the land

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

curved or curving in and out

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

so remarkably different or sudden as to cause momentary shock or alarm

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

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

From this reading The sun was going down on the Dedlow Marshes.

the time in the evening at which the sun begins to fall below the horizon

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

plural of “surface” — the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

possessing sweep

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

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

From this reading The sun was going down on the Dedlow Marshes.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading The strong breath of the Pacific fanning their surfaces at times kindled them into a dull glow like dying embers.

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

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The sun was going down on the Dedlow Marshes.

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 The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

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

From this reading The tide was following it fast as if to meet the reddening lines of sky and water in the west, leaving the foreground to grow blacker and blacker every moment, and to bring out in startling contrast the few half-filled and half-lit pools left behind and forgotten.

a Caucasian

From this reading A cloud of sand-pipers rose white from one of the nearer lagoons, swept in a long eddying ring against the sunset, and became a black and dropping rain to seaward.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The long sinuous line of channel, fading with the light and ebbing with the tide, began to give off here and there light puffs of gray-winged birds like sudden exhalations.