Chapter II

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

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

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

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

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

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

concerned with concrete problems or data rather than with fundamental principles

From this reading Hence the term "Balize" applied to the mouth of the Mississippi.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

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

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

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

From this reading Hence the term "Balize" applied to the mouth of the Mississippi.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

a fire (usually on a hill or tower) that can be seen from a distance

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

two-masted sailing vessel square-rigged on the foremast and fore-and-aft rigged on the mainmast

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

plural of “captive” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

a series of things depending on each other as if linked together

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

a statement that represents something in words

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

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

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

plural of “footnote” — a printed note placed below the text on a printed page

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

the Romance language spoken in France and in countries colonized by France

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

provided with whatever is necessary for a purpose (as furniture or equipment or authority)

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

for this reason

From this reading Hence the term "Balize" applied to the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading PART II.

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

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

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 Hence the term "Balize" applied to the mouth of the Mississippi.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

something that baffles understanding and cannot be explained

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

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

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

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

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

showing a cheerful willingness to do favors for others

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

on one occasion

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

a collection of things wrapped or boxed together

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading PART II.

the human face (“kisser” and “smiler” and “mug” are informal terms for “face” and “phiz” is British)

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

to an ample degree or in an ample manner

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

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

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

transport commercially

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

plural of “ship” — a vessel that carries passengers or freight

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

the Romance language spoken in most of Spain and the countries colonized by Spain

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

past form of “supersede” — take the place or move into the position of

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

a word or expression used for some particular thing

From this reading Hence the term "Balize" applied to the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

(of flora or fauna) likely in the near future to become endangered

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

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

From this reading Hence the term "Balize" applied to the mouth of the Mississippi.

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

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

-ing form of “tow” — drag behind

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

past form of “unravel” — become or cause to become undone by separating the fibers or threads of

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

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

From this reading FOOTNOTES: [1] French BALISE, Spanish, VALIZA, a _beacon_; once placed at the mouth of the river, but now superseded by a light-house.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading VI.

have a certain weight

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.

a very large person; impressive in size or qualities

From this reading The Mississippi--The Whale--Description of tow-boats--A package--A threatened storm--A beautiful brigantine-- Physiognomy of ships--Richly furnished cabin--An obliging Captain--Desert the ship--Getting under weigh--A chain of captives--Towing--New-Orleans--A mystery to be unraveled.