on a ship, train, plane or other vehicle
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
prior to a specified or implied time
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
awfuladjectiveUS /ˈɑːfəl/
exceptionally bad or displeasing
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
enter or assume a certain state or condition
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
befallverbUS /bɪˈfɔːl/
become of; happen to
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
the two together, not just one
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other
From this reading But in China or the broad plains of the Pacific, to die of thirst was intelligible, tolerable.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But in China or the broad plains of the Pacific, to die of thirst was intelligible, tolerable.
ChinanounUS /ˈtʃaɪnə/
a communist nation that covers a vast territory in eastern Asia; the most populous country in the world
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
the time during which someone's life continues
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
the event of dying or departure from life
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading But in China or the broad plains of the Pacific, to die of thirst was intelligible, tolerable.
past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
take in liquids
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
being one more than seven
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
havingauxiliary verbUS /ˈhævɪŋ/
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
detected or perceived by the sense of hearing
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
how
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
intelligibleadjectiveUS /ˌɪnˈtelədʒəbəl/
capable of being apprehended or understood
From this reading But in China or the broad plains of the Pacific, to die of thirst was intelligible, tolerable.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
the land on which real estate is located
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
immediately past
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
roused to anger
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
malefactorsnounUS /ˈmæləfæktərz/
plural of “malefactor” — someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
used to mean any person in general, including the speaker
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
PacificnounUS /pəˈsɪfɪk/
the largest ocean in the world
From this reading But in China or the broad plains of the Pacific, to die of thirst was intelligible, tolerable.
plainsnounUS /pleɪnz/
plural of “plain” — extensive tract of level open land
From this reading But in China or the broad plains of the Pacific, to die of thirst was intelligible, tolerable.
interpret something that is written or printed
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
transport commercially
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
solidadjectiveUS /ˈsɑːləd/
characterized by good substantial quality
From this reading He had read of it, heard of it both aboard ship and on the solid land.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
ThirstnounUS /θɜːrst/
a physiological need to drink
From this reading Thirst!
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading But in China or the broad plains of the Pacific, to die of thirst was intelligible, tolerable.
tolerableadjectiveUS /ˈtɑːlərəbəl/
capable of being borne or endured
From this reading But in China or the broad plains of the Pacific, to die of thirst was intelligible, tolerable.
untilprepositionUS /ənˈtɪl/
up to a particular time
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
wasauxiliary verbUS /wɑːz/
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
not having, not using, or not accompanied by
From this reading He had read how in China they kept malefactors seven or eight days without food or drink, until at last, having become already mad, they died.
the least favorable outcome
From this reading It was an awful death, one of the worst that could befall man.
