Chapter XIX · The Convict

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

From this reading It was a combination of adverse circumstances.

contrary to your interests or welfare

From this reading It was a combination of adverse circumstances.

stuck in a place where a ship can no longer float

From this reading Running the _Kestrel_ aground was excusable but hardly avoidable.

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

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

capable of being avoided or warded off

From this reading Running the _Kestrel_ aground was excusable but hardly avoidable.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

plural of “beacon” — a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Running the _Kestrel_ aground was excusable but hardly avoidable.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

a path over which electrical signals can pass

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

your overall circumstances or condition in life (including everything that happens to you)

From this reading It was a combination of adverse circumstances.

a collection of things that have been combined; an assemblage of separate parts or qualities

From this reading It was a combination of adverse circumstances.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

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

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

being one more than seven

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

capable of being overlooked

From this reading Running the _Kestrel_ aground was excusable but hardly avoidable.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

set up or found

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

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

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

only a very short time before

From this reading Running the _Kestrel_ aground was excusable but hardly avoidable.

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

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a combination of adverse circumstances.

a gay festivity

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

small North American falcon

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

the act of departing

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

relating to or applicable to or concerned with the administration of a city or town or district rather than a larger area

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

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

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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 Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

a distinguishing symbol

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

(Arthurian legend) the magician who acted as King Arthur's advisor

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

water soaked soil; soft wet earth

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

according to the clock

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

a volatile flammable mixture of hydrocarbons (hexane and heptane and octane etc.) derived from petroleum; used mainly as a fuel in internal-combustion engines

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

a dough-like mixture of whiting and boiled linseed oil; used especially to patch woodwork or secure panes of glass

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

a meeting planned at a certain time and place

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading Running the _Kestrel_ aground was excusable but hardly avoidable.

Identical; not different.

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

plural of “scout” — a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

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

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

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

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

the act of hauling something (as a vehicle) by means of a hitch or rope

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

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

From this reading The _Kestrel_ “took the putty” badly and, in spite of the _Merlin’s_ efforts to tow her off, she remained there for nearly two hours.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

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

From this reading It was a combination of adverse circumstances.

(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 Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading If, on leaving Lymington River, the _Kestrel_ hadn’t run on the mud; if the tide had not changed and the wind fallen light; and if the _Merlin_ had not run out of petrol: then the Sea Scouts might have found themselves at the rendezvous for the Jamboree at eight o’clock that evening.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.

a person who owns or sails a yacht

From this reading Many a yachtsman with local knowledge has done much the same, for the beacons, instead of marking the edge of the channel, are some distance away from it and well up on the mud.