used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
aboutprepositionUS /əˈbaʊt/
on the subject of; concerning
From this reading Oliver reined back, seeing Felix about to bend and string his bow.
happening at a time subsequent to a reference time
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody
From this reading "What is it?" he asked, turning round in his saddle.
in or to or toward a former location
From this reading Oliver reined back, seeing Felix about to bend and string his bow.
beenauxiliary verbUS /bɪn/
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
bendverbUS /bend/
form a curve
From this reading Oliver reined back, seeing Felix about to bend and string his bow.
a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces
From this reading Oliver reined back, seeing Felix about to bend and string his bow.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
taking care or paying attention
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
without stop or interruption
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
dismounting
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
being or moving lower in position or less in some value
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
Felix
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
the act of determining the properties of something, usually by research or calculation
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
firsnounUS /fɜːrz/
plural of “fir” — nonresinous wood of a fir tree
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
inflected form of “fly” — travel through the air; be airborne
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
furzenoun
very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
girthnounUS /ɡɜːrθ/
the distance around a person's body
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
hadauxiliary verbUS /hæd/
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
haveauxiliary verbUS /hæv/
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
the pursuit and killing or capture of wild animals regarded as a sport
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
become quiet or still; fall silent
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading "What is it?" he asked, turning round in his saddle.
intoprepositionUS /ˈɪntuː/
moving to the inside of something
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading "What is it?" he asked, turning round in his saddle.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading "What is it?" he asked, turning round in his saddle.
and nothing more
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
OlivernounUS /ˈɑːləvər/
United States jazz musician who influenced the style of Louis Armstrong (1885-1938)
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
on one occasion
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
pheasantnounUS /ˈfezənt/
large long-tailed gallinaceous bird native to the Old World but introduced elsewhere
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
previouslyadverbUS /ˈpriːviəsli/
at an earlier time or formerly
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
with speed
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
reinedverbUS /reɪnd/
past form of “rein” — control and direct with or as if by reins
From this reading Oliver reined back, seeing Felix about to bend and string his bow.
past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
precisely, exactly
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
a charge of ammunition for a single shot
From this reading "What is it?" he asked, turning round in his saddle.
put a saddle on
From this reading "What is it?" he asked, turning round in his saddle.
being the one previously mentioned or spoken of
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
screamingadjectiveUS /ˈskriːmɪŋ/
so extremely intense as to evoke screams
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
perception by means of the eyes
From this reading Oliver reined back, seeing Felix about to bend and string his bow.
a point located with respect to surface features of some region
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
not in physical motion
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
Maintained an upright posture.
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
(of a nose) blocked
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
stringnounUS /strɪŋ/
a lightweight cord
From this reading Oliver reined back, seeing Felix about to bend and string his bow.
happening unexpectedly
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
the people or things already mentioned, as the object
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
the process of using your mind to consider something carefully
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
tightenverbUS /ˈtaɪtən/
make tight or tighter
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
in contact with each other or in proximity
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
a line or route along which something travels or moves
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
trainedadjectiveUS /treɪnd/
shaped or conditioned or disciplined by training; often used as a combining form
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
trottedverbUS /ˈtrɑːtɪd/
inflected form of “trot” — run at a moderately swift pace
From this reading THE FOREST TRACK CONTINUED Once as they trotted by a pheasant rose screaming from the furze and flew before them down the track.
the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course
From this reading "What is it?" he asked, turning round in his saddle.
being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
uponprepositionUS /əˈpɑːn/
a formal word for “on”
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
precisely as stated
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading "What is it?" he asked, turning round in his saddle.
which person or people
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
past form of “wish” — hope for; have a wish
From this reading Just afterwards Felix, who had been previously looking very carefully into the firs upon his right hand, suddenly stopped, and Oliver, finding this, pulled up as quickly as he could, thinking that Felix wished to tighten his girth.
inside; before a period of time has passed
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride
From this reading "Hush!" said Felix, dismounting; his horse, trained to hunting, stood perfectly still, and would have remained within a few yards of the spot by the hour together.
