Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "A living man," said one; "a living man," said the other; and they came thronging about me like caterpillars from every corner.

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

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

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

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

plural of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

completely unclothed

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

expletives used informally as intensifiers

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "A living man," said one; "a living man," said the other; and they came thronging about me like caterpillars from every corner.

plural of “caterpillar” — a wormlike and often brightly colored and hairy or spiny larva of a butterfly or moth

From this reading "A living man," said one; "a living man," said the other; and they came thronging about me like caterpillars from every corner.

plural of “cemetery” — a tract of land used for burials

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

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

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading "A living man," said one; "a living man," said the other; and they came thronging about me like caterpillars from every corner.

lack of integrity or honesty (especially susceptibility to bribery); use of a position of trust for dishonest gain

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

causing or capable of causing death

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

leave someone who needs or counts on you; leave in the lurch

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

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

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

a deliberate act of omission

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

have an existence, be extant

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

English writer known for his interest in mythology and in the classics (1895-1985)

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

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

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

an old word meaning “to this place”

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

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

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

an act of delaying or interrupting the continuity

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

immediately past

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

plural of “louse” — wingless usually flattened bloodsucking insect parasitic on warm-blooded animals

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

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

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

plural of “locust” — migratory grasshoppers of warm regions having short antennae

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

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

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

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

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

plural of “monster” — an imaginary creature usually having various human and animal parts

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

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

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

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

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

despite anything to the contrary (usually preceding a concession)

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

detected by instinct or inference rather than by recognized perceptual cues

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

past form of “prevail” — be larger in number, quantity, power, status or importance

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

past form of “proceed” — continue talking

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

plural of “reptile” — any cold-blooded vertebrate of the class Reptilia including tortoises, turtles, snakes, lizards, alligators, crocodiles, and extinct forms

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "A living man," said one; "a living man," said the other; and they came thronging about me like caterpillars from every corner.

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

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

plural of “serpent” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

(plural) something that reminds you of someone or something

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

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

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

formerly a contemptuous term of address to an inferior man or boy; often used in anger

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

plural of “snake” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

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

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

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

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

in or at that place or location

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

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

From this reading "A living man," said one; "a living man," said the other; and they came thronging about me like caterpillars from every corner.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

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

From this reading "A living man," said one; "a living man," said the other; and they came thronging about me like caterpillars from every corner.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

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

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

plural of “toad” — any of various tailless stout-bodied amphibians with long hind limbs for leaping; semiaquatic and terrestrial species

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

all the plant life in a particular region or period

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

extremely poisonous or injurious; producing venom

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

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

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Through myriads of shades, and creeping things, graves, sepulchres, and cemeteries, we proceeded, without interruption, to observe the country.

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

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

a light noise, like the noise of silk clothing or leaves blowing in the wind

From this reading At last I perceived some of the shades turning and looking upon me; and suddenly, notwithstanding the great silence that had prevailed before, there was a whispering from one to the other that there was a _living man_ at hand.

which person or people

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading It was a desert, bare, and blasted country, without grass, or vegetation, or woods, and without animals, with the exception of deadly monsters, and venomous reptiles of every kind; serpents, snakes, lice, toads, maw-worms, locusts, ear-wigs, and the like, which all exist on human corruption.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "How did you come hither, sirrah?" said a little morkin of a death who was there.