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 Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

feel physical pain

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

past form of “ache” — feel physical pain

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

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

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

marked by care and persistent effort

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

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

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

plural of “boulder” — a large smooth mass of rock detached from its place of origin

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

the people of Great Britain

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

put or send forth

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

of or relating to Christopher Columbus

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

a downward slope or bend

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

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

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

very light rain; stronger than mist but less than a shower

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

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

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

plural of “fang” — a Bantu language spoken in Cameroon

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

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

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

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

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

the act of someone who fishes as a diversion

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

a mass of small bubbles formed in or on a liquid

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

resembling glass in smoothness and shininess and slickness

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

inflected form of “hem” — fold over and sew together to provide with a hem

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

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

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

ten 10s

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

devoid of warmth and cordiality; expressive of unfriendliness or disdain

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

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

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

of a quantity not able to fulfill a need or requirement

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

coming only to the ankle or knee

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

permitting the unwanted passage of fluids or gases

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

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 It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

a fabric woven with lisle thread

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

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 few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

roused to anger

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

the common people generally

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

the part of a rock formation that appears above the surface of the surrounding land

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

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

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

past form of “persevere” — be persistent, refuse to stop

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

an excavation that is (usually) filled with water

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

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

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

done or occurring in a brief period of time

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

stupefied or excited by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

a deep prolonged loud noise

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

an elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

start suddenly, as from fright

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

not tense or taut

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

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

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

the season of growth

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

lacking natural ease

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

cut off or left behind

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

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

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

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

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

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

From this reading It was difficult to reach the slack behind a boulder some distance outshore, and the arm he strained at every cast ached from hours of assiduous labor; but there was another ache in his left side which was the result of insufficient food, and though the fish were shy he persevered.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

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

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

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

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

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 water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

any shape that is triangular in cross section

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

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

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

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

From this reading The water of the British Columbian river in which he stood knee-deep was icy cold; his rubber boots were badly ripped and leaky, and he was wet with the drizzle that drove down the lonely valley.

a Caucasian

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.

(of hair) having lost its color

From this reading Wet boulders and outcropping fangs of rock hemmed in the water, and among them lay stranded logs and stream-packed masses of whitened branches.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Vernon Lisle was fishing with a determination that did not spring altogether from love of the sport.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading A few hundred yards away the stream came roaring down a long declivity in a mad white rapid and then shot across the glassy green surface of the pool below in a raised-up wedge of foam.