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 The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

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

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

separated or at a distance in place or position or time

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

coverings that are used on a bed

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

any skeletal muscle having two origins (but especially the muscle that flexes the forearm)

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

a person who eats human flesh

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

the part of the human torso between the neck and the diaphragm or the corresponding part in other vertebrates

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

a person who is in charge

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

plural of “curse” — profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

any of various platforms built into a vessel

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

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

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

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

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

extraordinarily large in size or extent or amount or power or degree

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

a native or inhabitant of Finland

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

plural of “giant” — any creature of exceptional size

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

disposed to please

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

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

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

atmospheric moisture or dust or smoke that causes reduced visibility

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

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

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

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

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

plural of “lamp” — an artificial source of visible illumination

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

having no meaning or direction or purpose

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

the use of movements (especially of the hands) to communicate familiar or prearranged signals

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

superlative of “old” — (used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

above and across; more than

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

a light shade of red

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

in a quiet and tranquil manner

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

having great power or force or potency or effect

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

past form of “reel” — walk as if unable to control one's movements

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

plural of “scandinavian” — an inhabitant of Scandinavia

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

(American football) practice play between a football team's squads

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

a man who serves as a sailor

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

transport commercially

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

a garment worn on the upper half of the body

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

marked by absence of sound

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

a single object (as distinguished from a pair)

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

having a surface free from roughness or bumps or ridges or irregularities

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

V-shaped sleeve badge indicating military rank and service

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

having only essential or minimal features

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

past form of “sway” — move back and forth or sideways

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

past form of “tattoo” — stain (skin) with indelible color

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

a violent commotion or disturbance

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

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

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

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

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

past form of “tumble” — fall down, as if collapsing

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

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

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

the narrowing of the body between the ribs and hips

From this reading Old Singleton, the oldest able seaman in the ship, sat apart on the deck right under the lamps, stripped to the waist, tattooed like a cannibal chief all over his powerful chest and enormous biceps.

(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

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

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The group swayed, reeled, turning upon itself with the motion of a scrimmage, in a haze of tobacco smoke.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading All were speaking together, swearing at every second word.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading A Russian Finn, wearing a yellow shirt with pink stripes, stared upwards, dreamy-eyed, from under a mop of tumbled hair.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Two young giants with smooth, baby faces—two Scandinavians—helped each other to spread their bedding, silent, and smiling placidly at the tempest of good-humoured and meaningless curses.