Chapter VI · Chapter 6

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

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

(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 FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

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

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

feeling or showing anger

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

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

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

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

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

the time when something begins (especially life)

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

temporary living quarters specially built by the army for soldiers

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

of textures that are rough to the touch or substances consisting of relatively large particles

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

an abstract or general idea inferred or derived from specific instances

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

plural of “cottonwood” — any of several North American trees of the genus Populus having a tuft of cottony hairs on the seed

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

a flow of electricity through a conductor

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

a mental state characterized by a pessimistic sense of inadequacy and a despondent lack of activity

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

a division of the United Kingdom

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

divisible by two

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

opinion or judgment

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

plural of “face” — the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

ludicrously odd

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

the state of being intensely interested (as by awe or terror)

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

lasting for a markedly brief time

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

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

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

plural of “form” — the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

set up or found

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

obtain

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

a flash of light (especially reflected light)

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

a quick look

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

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

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

having or showing excessive or compulsive concern with something

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

past form of “help” — give help or assistance; be of service

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

practices that are handed down from the past by tradition

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

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

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

situated away from an area's coast or border

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

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

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

a tight cluster of people or things

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

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

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

bringing a charge or accusation against someone

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

the property of relative size or extent (whether large or small)

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

plural of “mound” — (baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

comparative of “narrow” — not wide

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

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

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

a large body of water constituting a principal part of the hydrosphere

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

not divisible by two

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

in a manner differing from the usual or expected

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

and nothing more

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

-ing form of “presage” — indicate, as with a sign or an omen

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

the act of pressing; the exertion of pressure

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

past form of “proceed” — continue talking

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

shielding (or designed to shield) against harm or discomfort

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

separated in relationship by a given degree of descent

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

worried and uneasy

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

a loose material consisting of grains of rock or coral

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

only a very short time before

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

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

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

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

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

moving slowly

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

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

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

the unlimited expanse in which everything is located

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

a natural body of running water flowing on or under the earth

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

nobility in thought or feeling or style

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

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

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

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

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

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

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

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

From this reading FROM THE JAWS OF DEATH I think it must be in the blood of all of New England birth to love the sea.

in the direction of

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

superlative of “vague” — not clearly expressed or understood

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

to no avail

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

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

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

United States actress and singer (1896-1977)

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

in or at the place that

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

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

From this reading The thought of that vast inland ocean, of the magnitude and sublimity of which I had only the vaguest conception, haunted me all that afternoon; and I scarcely removed my eyes from those oddly constructed mounds of drifted sand, striving vainly to gain, through some depression between them, a fleeting glimpse of the restless waters that had helped to shape them into such fantastic forms.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.

in the company of; together with

From this reading As the sun sank, angry red in our faces, presaging a storm, the course of the little stream we had been following drew in closer toward these grotesque piles, and the trail we followed became narrower, with the sluggish current pressing upon one side and that odd bank of gleaming sand upon the other.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading In a little open space, where quite a carpet of coarse yellowish grass had found lodgment, beneath the protecting shadow of a knot of cottonwoods, we finally made camp, and proceeded to prepare our evening meal.

but in spite of that

From this reading They may never have seen it, nor even heard its wild, stern music; yet the fascination of great waters is part of their heritage.