Chapter XV

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

a deep yellow color

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They looked at him, and he looked at them in silence.

serving as an essential component

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

possessive form of “commissioner” — a government administrator

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

causing an emotional disturbance

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

suitable to or characteristic of drama

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading Such was the experience of the two explorers.

plural of “explorer” — someone who travels into little known regions (especially for some scientific purpose)

From this reading Such was the experience of the two explorers.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

a correctional institution used to detain persons who are in the lawful custody of the government (either accused persons awaiting trial or convicted persons serving a sentence)

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

a small number or amount

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading They looked at him, and he looked at them in silence.

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

From this reading They looked at him, and he looked at them in silence.

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

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading They looked at him, and he looked at them in silence.

sit or recline comfortably

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

plural of “matter” — a vaguely specified concern

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

plural of “mind” — that which is responsible for one's thoughts, feelings, and conscious brain functions; the seat of the faculty of reason

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

not able to be found

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

abusing vocally; expressing contempt or ridicule

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

loose hemp or jute fiber obtained by unravelling old ropes; when impregnated with tar it was used to caulk seams and pack joints in wooden ships

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

held or filled or in use

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

a small smooth rounded rock

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

the quantity of a crop that is harvested

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading They looked at him, and he looked at them in silence.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

to a small degree or extent

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They looked at him, and he looked at them in silence.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a dramatic pause as Amber rose from the Commissioner’s lounge chair.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They looked at him, and he looked at them in silence.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading Such was the experience of the two explorers.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

the act of traveling by foot

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

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

From this reading The mocking smile which they had come to know so well was missing from his face.

(slang) offensive names for a White man

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A HANDFUL O’ PEBBLE To walk into a room in West Central Africa with your mind engaged on such matters as occupied the minds of Lambaire and Whitey, and to come suddenly upon a man whom you thought was picking oakum in a county gaol, is somewhat disconcerting.