Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading Black Bruin's first acquaintance with a panther .

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

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

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

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

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

in a state of sleep

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

have

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

the soft brown fur of the beaver

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

an account of the series of events making up a person's life

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Black Bruin's first acquaintance with a panther .

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

possessive form of “bruin” — a conventional name for a bear used in tales following usage in the old epic “Reynard the Fox”

From this reading Black Bruin's first acquaintance with a panther .

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

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

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

an odorless very poisonous gas that is a product of incomplete combustion of carbon

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

difficult to handle or use especially because of size or weight

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

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

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

adorned with feathers or plumes

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading Black Bruin's first acquaintance with a panther .

people in general (often used in the plural)

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

plural of “forester” — English writer of adventure novels featuring Captain Horatio Hornblower (1899-1966)

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

covered with a dense coat of fine silky hairs

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

marked by quiet and caution and secrecy; taking pains to avoid being observed

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

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

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

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

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

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

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

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

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

the activity of keeping something secret

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

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

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

English writer of macabre short stories (1863-1943)

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

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

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

United States poet remembered for his long narrative poems (1807-1882)

From this reading --LONGFELLOW.

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

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

plural of “moss” — tiny leafy-stemmed flowerless plants

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

plural of “mountain” — a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

plural of “nation” — a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

a large spotted feline of tropical America similar to the leopard; in some classifications considered a member of the genus Felis

From this reading Black Bruin's first acquaintance with a panther .

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

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

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

having spots or patches (small areas of contrasting color or texture)

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

inflected form of “steal” — take without the owner's consent

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

the highest level or degree attainable; the highest stage of development

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

plural of “tenant” — someone who pays rent to use land or a building or a car that is owned by someone else

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

an overwhelming feeling of fear and anxiety

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

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

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

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

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.

a heavy grey-white metallic element; the pure form is used mainly in electrical applications; it is found in several ores including wolframite and scheelite

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

informal terms for money

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

a sudden desire

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

which person or people

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

belonging to which person

From this reading George W. Jacobs & Co. whose clever brush has caught so perfectly each whim of nature in field and forest, and called from hiding the furtive furred and feathered folk, who come and go like shadows in the ancient woods.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had stolen the belt of Wampum From the neck of Mishe-mokwa, From the Great Bear of the mountains, From the terror of the nations, As he lay asleep and cumbrous, On the summit of the mountains, Like a rock with mosses on it, Spotted brown and gray with mosses.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading Shaggycoat, The Biography of a Beaver The Trail to the Woods Tenants of the Trees The Little Foresters etc.