used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
one or some or every or all without specification
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
the month following July and preceding September
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
an indentation of a shoreline larger than a cove but smaller than a gulf
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
beingauxiliary verbUS /ˈbiːɪŋ/
the -ing form of “be”
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
a series of things depending on each other as if linked together
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
clickingverbUS /ˈklɪkɪŋ/
-ing form of “click” — move or strike with a noise
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
give a description of
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
disappearingnounUS /ˌdɪsəˈpɪrɪŋ/
the act of leaving secretly or without explanation
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
driftingnounUS /ˈdrɪftɪŋ/
aimless wandering from place to place
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
earlyadjectiveUS /ˈɜːrli/
at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
(Old Testament) Adam's wife in Judeo-Christian mythology: the first woman and mother of the human race; God created Eve from Adam's rib and placed Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
freshlyadverbUS /ˈfreʃli/
very recently
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
to an extraordinary extent or degree
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
hasauxiliary verbUS /hæz/
the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
hawse-hole
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
used to add a contrasting statement
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
ten 10s
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
water frozen in the solid state
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
ICE-NAVIGATION
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading ICE-NAVIGATION.
illustrationnounUS /ˌɪləˈstreɪʃən/
artwork that helps make something clear or attractive
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
the formation of a mental image of something that is not perceived as real and is not present to the senses
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
largeadjectiveUS /lɑːrdʒ/
above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
put into a certain place or abstract location
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
letauxiliary verbUS /let/
used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
magnifyverbUS /ˈmæɡnəfaɪ/
increase in size, volume or significance
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
meltedadjectiveUS /ˈmeltəd/
changed from a solid to a liquid state
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
MelvillenounUS /ˈmelvɪl/
United States writer of novels and short stories (1819-1891)
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
minutenessnoun
the property of being very small in size
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
to a great degree or extent
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
a condition requiring relief
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
not any; not one
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
belonging to the speaker and others
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
arrange in a container
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
something determined in relation to something that includes it
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
porousadjectiveUS /ˈpɔːrəs/
able to absorb fluids
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
proportionnounUS /prəˈpɔːrʃən/
the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
quietadjectiveUS /ˈkwaɪət/
characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
to a degree (not used with a negative)
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
reducedadjectiveUS /rəˈduːst/
made less in size or amount or degree
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
not in physical motion
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
stretchverbUS /stretʃ/
occupy a large, elongated area
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
carry out
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
in or at that place or location
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
thicknessnounUS /ˈθɪknəs/
the dimension through an object as opposed to its length or width
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
an instance or single occasion for some event
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
precisely as stated
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
a way of regarding situations or topics etc.
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading In the early part of the season this ice is very hard, and many feet in thickness; but by August (which was the time of our being there) it has become porous, its thickness has been greatly reduced, much of it is on the eve of disappearing altogether, and still more of it has quite melted away.
used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
WhileconjunctionUS /waɪl/
during the time that
From this reading While the chain is clicking in the hawse-hole, let us take a quiet view of the situation.
widthnounUS /wɪdθ/
the extent of something from side to side
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
used to talk about the future, or about willingness
From this reading The ice freshly broken up in any large river is a sufficient illustration, provided the imagination will stretch the river to three hundred miles in width, and magnify the drifting fields of ice in proportion.
in the company of; together with
From this reading There is no need, however, to describe with much minuteness the “Melville Bay pack” which lay before us.
