Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

later than; following

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

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

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

plural of “appearance” — outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

a formal organization of people or groups of people

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

pain resulting from rapid change in pressure

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

plural of “bond” — an electrical force linking atoms

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

confined by bonds

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

of short duration or distance

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

an alert cognitive state in which you are aware of yourself and your situation

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

soft silky fibers from cotton plants in their raw state

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

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

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

-ing form of “describe” — give a description of

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

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

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

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

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

tiresomely long; seemingly without end

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

capturing interest as if by a spell

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

a church congregation guided by a pastor

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

the rising of a body of water and its overflowing onto normally dry land

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

assemble or get together

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

plural of “goose” — web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

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

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

only a very short time before

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

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

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

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

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

plural of “history” — the aggregate of past events

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

plural of “hundred” — ten 10s

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

of great significance or value

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

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

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

not prominent or readily noticeable

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

plural of “industry” — the people or companies engaged in a particular kind of commercial enterprise

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

and nothing more

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

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

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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 His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

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 He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

United States prizefighter who was world heavyweight champion for 12 years (1914-1981)

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

a compact mass

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

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

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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 His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

a major North American river and the chief river of the United States; rises in northern Minnesota and flows southward into the Gulf of Mexico

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

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

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

a brief written record

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

plural of “notebook” — a book with blank pages for recording notes or memoranda

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

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

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

the body of people in a learned occupation

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

the possibility of future success

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

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

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

a bar of sand

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

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

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

plural of “ten” — the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

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

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

a word or expression used for some particular thing

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

in or at that place or location

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

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

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

the deliberate act of delaying and playing instead of working

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

up to a particular time

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

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

From this reading He had passed by many places with hardly a glance, so entrancing had been the prospect of endless miles of earth-bound flood!--bound but wearing away its bonds.

annual or biennial grass having erect flower spikes and light brown grains

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.

at the time that

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

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

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading He had drifted down long, lonely bends, and he had surprised a flock of wild geese under a little bluff on an island sandbar just above Kaskaskia, in the big cut-off there.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His thought had been, when he left St. Louis, to stop in towns and gather those things which minds not of the newspaper profession lump under the term of "histories," but now, after his hundreds of miles of association with the river, his thought took but brief note of those trifling and inconspicuous appearances known as "river towns."

the words that are spoken

From this reading Terabon's notebooks held tens of thousands of words describing the Mississippi River and the people he had met.

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

From this reading Until this day the Mississippi had been growing more and more into his consciousness; not people, not industries, not corn, wheat, or cotton had become interesting and important, but the yellow flood itself.