Chapter XXIV

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

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

lighted up by or as by fire or flame

From this reading But I was convinced that it was afire.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

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

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

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

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

a group that defends a principle

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

having a border especially of a specified kind; sometimes used as a combining term

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

the two together, not just one

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

a partially opened flower

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But I was convinced that it was afire.

small and light boat; pointed at both ends; propelled with a paddle

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

lacking definite form or limits

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

persuaded of; very sure

From this reading But I was convinced that it was afire.

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

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

any of numerous shrubs of genus Vaccinium bearing cranberries

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

the remains of something that has been destroyed or broken up

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

past form of “drown” — cover completely or make imperceptible

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

borne up by or suspended in a liquid

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

having the deep slightly brownish color of gold

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

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

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

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

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

to a high degree; extremely; in high concentration or density

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But I was convinced that it was afire.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

plural of “land” — the land on which real estate is located

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

any liliaceous plant of the genus Lilium having showy pendulous flowers

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

vigorously passionate

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

plural of “maple” — wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

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

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

(of a leaf shape) having a somewhat elongated form with approximately parallel sides

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

plural of “pad” — a number of sheets of paper fastened together along one edge

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

coated with paint

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

mended usually clumsily by covering a hole with a patch

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

an excavation that is (usually) filled with water

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

how much there is or how many there are of something that you can quantify

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

(biology) the process of decay caused by bacterial or fungal action

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

plural of “rush” — the act of moving hurriedly and in a careless manner

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

plural of “shore” — the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

plural of “shred” — a tiny or scarcely detectable amount

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

without speaking

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

move hurridly

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

the season of growth

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

-ing form of “stack” — load or cover with stacks

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

plural of “stalk” — material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

the act of swimming

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

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

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

the upper part of anything

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

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

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

not having makeup on

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

directed up

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

mechanical device attached to an elevated structure; rotates freely to show the direction of the wind

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.

a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

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

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

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

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

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 Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

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

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading GREEN-COATS Nothing stirred on the Drowned Lands as we drove our canoe at top speed between tall bronzed stalks of rushes and dead water-weeds.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading I could not see Fish House--that oblong, unpainted building a story and a half in height, with its chimneys of stone and the painted fish weather vane swimming in the sky.

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

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

in or at the place that

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

plural of “willow” — any of numerous deciduous trees and shrubs of the genus Salix

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Vlaie Water was intensely blue and patched with golden debris of floating stuff--shreds of cranberry vine, rotting lily pads, and the like--and in twenty minutes we floated silently into the Spring Pool, opposite the Stacking Ridge, where hard earth bordered both shores and where maples and willows were now in lusty bud.

moving in a twisting or snake-like or wormlike fashion

From this reading Two miles away, against Maxon's sturdy bastion, a vast quantity of smoke was writhing upward in dark and cloudy convolutions.