Chapter XXI

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

(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 In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

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

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

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

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

a society in an advanced state of social development (e.g., with complex legal and political and religious organizations)

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

inflected form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

a conceptual whole made up of complicated and related parts

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

very opposed in nature or character or purpose

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

a particular society at a particular time and place

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

an administrator in charge of a division of a university or college

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

the process of declining from a higher to a lower level of effective power or vitality or essential quality

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

the termination of something by causing so much damage to it that it cannot be repaired or no longer exists

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

with ease (“easy” is sometimes used informally for “easily”)

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

gradually intrusive without right or permission

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

people in general (often used in the plural)

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

set up or found

From this reading And now the People of the Light had found a new god.

the supernatural being conceived as the perfect and omnipotent and omniscient originator and ruler of the universe; the object of worship in monotheistic religions

From this reading And now the People of the Light had found a new god.

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

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

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

all of the living human inhabitants of the earth

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

located inward

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

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

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

engage in

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

and nothing more

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

plural of “million” — the number that is represented as a one followed by 6 zeros

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading And now the People of the Light had found a new god.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

on one occasion

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

and nothing more

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

of or relating to a pastor

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

the particular portion of space occupied by something

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

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

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

past form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

and nothing more

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

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

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

(of predatory animals) armed with claws or talons

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

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

From this reading _Taloned Hands_ Simple, pastoral folk, the People of the Light!

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

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

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

know and comprehend the nature or meaning of

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.

a sudden or mysterious disappearance

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

in or at the place that

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

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

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

having or prompted by wisdom or discernment

From this reading Living simply, and clean of mind, they had clung to the culture of the past as it was taught them by their Wise Ones.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading In their inner world, a vanishing world, where nearly all of what once had been a vast country was now covered by the steadily encroaching sea, they had resisted the degeneration which might easily have followed the destruction of a complex civilization.

(comparative of “bad”) inferior to another in quality or condition or desirability

From this reading Not that Dean Rawson had asked for that exalted position; on the contrary he had tried his best to make them understand that he was only one of many millions, some better, some worse, but all of them merely humans.