Chapter XXVII

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

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

the activity of contributing to the fulfillment of a need or furtherance of an effort or purpose

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Bob instinctively moved back.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

move up and down repeatedly

From this reading BOB THE situation had suddenly grown more desperate.

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

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

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

plural of “collision” — (physics) a brief event in which two or more bodies come together

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

plural of “command” — an authoritative direction or instruction to do something

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

marked by deprivation especially of the necessities of life or healthful environmental influences

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading BOB THE situation had suddenly grown more desperate.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

constituting the full quantity or extent; complete

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading BOB THE situation had suddenly grown more desperate.

plural of “guard” — a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading BOB THE situation had suddenly grown more desperate.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

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

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

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

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

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

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

as a matter of instinct

From this reading Bob instinctively moved back.

referring to the second of two things or persons mentioned (or the last one or ones of several)

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading BOB THE situation had suddenly grown more desperate.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading Bob instinctively moved back.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

undistorted by emotion or personal bias; based on observable phenomena

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

someone paddling a canoe

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

by chance

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

possession of controlling influence

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

plural of “rock” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

of hair color; pale yellowish to yellowish brown

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

the general state of things; the combination of circumstances at a given time

From this reading BOB THE situation had suddenly grown more desperate.

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

plural of “stump” — the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading BOB THE situation had suddenly grown more desperate.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

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

From this reading BOB THE situation had suddenly grown more desperate.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

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

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

in the direction of

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

under normal conditions

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

wanting in physical strength

From this reading Perhaps the other had not been doing much, but his weak efforts must surely have helped a little.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Deprived of what assistance Sandy might have given him, Bob must shoulder the entire burden.

in or at the place that

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading This would give him greater power to swing the head of the dancing canoe toward the objective point; for the paddler in the stern usually commands the course of the boat better than his comrade placed in the bow, though the latter guards against collisions, where rocks or stumps abound.