Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

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

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

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

From this reading And so we came back to our comfortable hut.

destruction by annihilating something

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

the region around the south pole: Antarctica and surrounding waters

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

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

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading And so we came back to our comfortable hut.

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

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

for the reason that

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

plural of “being” — the state or fact of existing

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

Irish philosopher and Anglican bishop who opposed the materialism of Thomas Hobbes (1685-1753)

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

plural of “boundary” — the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

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

From this reading And so we came back to our comfortable hut.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

a strip of land projecting into a body of water

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

(Greek mythology) fire-breathing female monster with a lion's head and a goat's body and a serpent's tail; daughter of Typhon

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

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

From this reading It is just the most comfortable thing and the easiest thing to do under the circumstances.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading And so we came back to our comfortable hut.

the process of taking food into the body through the mouth (as by eating)

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

approval

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

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

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading It is just the most comfortable thing and the easiest thing to do under the circumstances.

superlative of “easy” — posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading It is just the most comfortable thing and the easiest thing to do under the circumstances.

a purposeful or industrious undertaking (especially one that requires effort or boldness)

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch; the official language of Britain and the United States and most of the commonwealth countries

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

United States anatomist who identified four pituitary hormones and discovered vitamin E (1882-1971)

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

inquire into

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

the act of departing

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

superlative of “high” — greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

a building where travelers can pay for lodging and meals and other services

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

temporary military shelter

From this reading And so we came back to our comfortable hut.

English physiologist who, with Alan Hodgkin, discovered the role of potassium and sodium ions in the transmission of the nerve impulse (born in 1917)

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

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

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

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

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

and nothing more

From this reading It is just the most comfortable thing and the easiest thing to do under the circumstances.

worthy of high praise

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

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

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

any admirable quality or attribute

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

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

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

used to form the superlative

From this reading It is just the most comfortable thing and the easiest thing to do under the circumstances.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

not any; not one

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

a tangible and visible entity; an entity that can cast a shadow

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

on one occasion

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

the act of pursuing in an effort to overtake or capture

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

remove something concrete, as by lifting, pushing, or taking off, or remove something abstract

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

and nothing more

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And so we came back to our comfortable hut.

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

a particular environment or walk of life

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

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

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

a special situation

From this reading It is just the most comfortable thing and the easiest thing to do under the circumstances.

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

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading It is just the most comfortable thing and the easiest thing to do under the circumstances.

not known

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

with unreduced energy

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading And so we came back to our comfortable hut.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading THE FIRST WINTER The highest object that human beings can set before themselves is not the pursuit of any such chimera as the annihilation of the unknown; it is simply the unwearied endeavour to remove its boundaries a little further from our little sphere of action.--HUXLEY.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading To spend a year in the hut at Cape Evans because you explore is no more laudable than to spend a month at Davos because you have consumption, or to spend an English winter at the Berkeley Hotel.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading Whatever merit there may be in going to the Antarctic, once there you must not credit yourself for being there.