Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading They were, too, a strong and well-built group of boys.

gotten through environmental forces

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

united by being of the same opinion

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

(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 All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

the state of being allied or confederated

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

without a doubt

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

a committee having supervisory powers

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading They were, too, a strong and well-built group of boys.

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

(of persons or their actions) able or disposed to inflict pain or suffering

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

make by combining materials and parts

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

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

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

in a cheerful manner

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

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

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

be identical or equivalent to

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

divisible by two

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

a military campaign designed to achieve a specific objective in a foreign country

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

activities that are enjoyable or amusing

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading They were, too, a strong and well-built group of boys.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

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

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

engage in

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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 There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

the force of workers available

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

a condition requiring relief

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

not far distant in time or space or degree or circumstances

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

not any; not one

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

a customary way of operation or behavior

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

plural of “quarrel” — an angry dispute

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

the act of rowing as a sport

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

a reason for wanting something done

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

superlative of “short” — primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

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

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

in the near future

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading They were, too, a strong and well-built group of boys.

having rugged physical strength; inured to fatigue or hardships

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

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

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

the act of swimming

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

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

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

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

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading They were, too, a strong and well-built group of boys.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

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

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading They were, too, a strong and well-built group of boys.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

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

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

the act of using

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading There were, however, no quarrels among them, and their strength they agreed to use in alliance, if need be, should any of the crew make a dead set at one or other of them; for even in an expedition like this there must be some brutal, as well as many brave men.

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

From this reading They were, too, a strong and well-built group of boys.

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

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

which person or people

From this reading There were assuredly two or three, at least, of those on board the Swanne who might well be called brutal.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

possessive form of “work” — activity directed toward making or doing something

From this reading All were full of fun, and took what came to them, in the way of work, so good temperedly and cheerfully, that the men soon ceased to give them work for work's sake.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.

superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Ned was by a full year the youngest, and by nigh a head the shortest of them; but his broad shoulders and sturdy build, and the strength acquired by long practice in swimming and rowing, made him their equal.