Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

forsake, leave behind

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

the state of being absent

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

anew

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

on or to one side

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

(usually followed by “of”) having capacity or ability

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

a person who is being chased

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

a person who is in charge

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

a group of people living in a particular local area

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

successfully completed or brought to an end

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

an upholstered seat for more than one person

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

an opposing military force

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

plural of “exertion” — use of physical or mental energy; hard work

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

a wilderness at the edge of a settled area of a country

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

plural of “fugitive” — someone who flees from an uncongenial situation

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

plural of “member” — one of the persons who compose a social group (especially individuals who have joined and participate in a group organization)

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

the force of workers available

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

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

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

having a systematic arrangement; especially having elements succeeding in order according to rule

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

persistent determination

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

first in rank or degree

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

carry out or participate in an activity; be involved in

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

a search for an alternative that meets cognitive criteria

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

the sport of sitting on the back of a horse while controlling its movements

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

only a very short time before

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

past form of “secure” — get by special effort

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

to a severe or serious degree

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

that is looked for

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

inflected form of “spy” — catch sight of

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

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

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.

a group of soldiers

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

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

From this reading CHAPTER THE FOURTH The Return of Sherdil To pursue the fugitives was impossible in the darkness; nor, indeed, were Rahmut's men capable of further exertions.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Before he sought his own couch, however, the old chief heard from Ahsan the full story of what had happened during his absence.

at the time that

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

which person or people

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

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

From this reading Before proceeding to carry out the prime object of his expedition, the old chief had turned aside to raid the village of an enemy near the frontier, and had scarcely completed his work there when he was spied by a troop of the Feringhis, who chased him with such pertinacity that he was forced to abandon his purposed quest.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading They were worn out by two days and nights of hard riding.

people who are wounded

From this reading Having secured, therefore, those members of Minghal's band who had life in them and were not too severely wounded to escape, Rahmut ordered the gates to be again closed and the community to rest.