Chapter XXI

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

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

(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 The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

the act of breaking something

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

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

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

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

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading Upon the other side were open clearings of plantations.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

past form of “comprise” — be composed of

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

the men and women who man a vehicle (ship, aircraft, etc.)

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

comparative of “dark” — devoid of or deficient in light or brightness; shadowed or black

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

the first light of day

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

the time after sunrise and before sunset while it is light outside

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

having lost your job

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

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

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

surrounded as with a border or fringe; sometimes used in combination

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

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

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

loud confused noise from many sources

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

of an obscure nature

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

a small worthless amount

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

the habitation of wild animals

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

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 The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

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

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

full of or characterized by loud and nonmusical sounds

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

port city located in southeastern Virginia on the Elizabeth River at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay; headquarters of the Atlantic fleet of the United States Navy

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

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

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

and nothing more

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading Upon the other side were open clearings of plantations.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Upon the other side were open clearings of plantations.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

possessive form of “pirate” — someone who uses another person's words or ideas as if they were his own

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

plural of “plantation” — an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)

From this reading Upon the other side were open clearings of plantations.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

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

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

past form of “sail” — traverse or travel on (a body of water)

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

a sailing vessel with a single mast set about one third of the boat's length aft of the bow

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

having a supporting base

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

drench or submerge or be drenched or submerged

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

fasten with tacks

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

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

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

the cardinal number that is the product of ten and three

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading On one side a swamp fringed with giant cypress-trees, their bright-green foliage standing out against the darker green of the trees behind, came close down to the point.

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

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Upon the other side were open clearings of plantations.

possessive form of “vessel” — a tube in which a body fluid circulates

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

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

From this reading It was in the early daylight of the following day that the sloop came about and, with a short tack, sailed into the mouth of Bath Creek.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading THE PIRATE’S LAIR IT took nearly a week to run from Norfolk to Bath Town.

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

From this reading Upon the other side were open clearings of plantations.

which person or people

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The sloop had run into Ocracock before the breaking of the fourth day; had discharged nearly all of its crew, with noisy hubbub, into the inscrutable gray of the dawning, and had then sailed away up the sound, with only the pirate captain, Dred, and Hands, and Jack, and two negroes left of the thirty or more who had comprised the vessel’s company.