Chapter XI

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Tall and thin, each one of the natives was almost naked.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

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

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

only a very short time before

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

cause to be bored

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

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

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

plural of “cheek” — either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

past form of “daub” — coat with plaster

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

with great urgency

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

true confidential information

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

a state of extreme (usually irremediable) ruin and misfortune

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Tall and thin, each one of the natives was almost naked.

an opposing military force

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

having escaped, especially from confinement

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

plural of “event” — something that happens at a given place and time

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

the property of being wild or turbulent

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

the act of giving

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

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

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

edge tool used as a cutting instrument; has a pointed blade with a sharp edge and a handle

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

set up or found

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

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 For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

the force of workers available

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

a particular point in time

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

machine that converts other forms of energy into mechanical energy and so imparts motion

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

in motion

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

completely unclothed

From this reading Tall and thin, each one of the natives was almost naked.

plural of “native” — an indigenous person who was born in a particular place

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Tall and thin, each one of the natives was almost naked.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Tall and thin, each one of the natives was almost naked.

coated with paint

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

plural of “person” — a human being

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

past form of “plait” — make by braiding or interlacing

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

plural of “queue” — a line of people or vehicles waiting for something

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

past form of “regard” — deem to be

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

Identical; not different.

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

plural of “stare” — a fixed look with eyes open wide

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

travel by means of steam power

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading Tall and thin, each one of the natives was almost naked.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

plural of “trifle” — a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

having no beneficial use or incapable of functioning usefully

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

of a vivid red to reddish-orange color

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

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

From this reading Barely Escaped Tall and lean, the natives aboard the steam launch were plainly visible for a moment, so much so that Jim, having regarded his useless motor desperately for some few seconds, was compelled to give his attention to the enemy.

at the time that

From this reading But when events are moving fast, and disaster stares one in the face, details and trifles escape attention.

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

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

during the time that

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

a Caucasian

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Their bodies were painted with broad stripes of white, which at a distance made one think of skeletons; while vermilion was daubed on the cheeks, giving each individual the same air of ferocity.

inflected form of “wear” — be dressed in

From this reading For the rest, these men wore their long hair plaited into queues, and bore about their persons a simple belt in which a long knife was suspended.