Chapter XXIV

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

later than; following

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

eagerly desirous

From this reading But that made Jim the more anxious not to take the faintest risk.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Rupert was safe, a thousand miles or more away on his journey.

a thorny Eurasian bush with plumlike fruits

From this reading He resisted the temptation to pay a flying visit to Blackthorn Farm.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But that made Jim the more anxious not to take the faintest risk.

Scottish man of letters and adventurer (1560-1582)

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

a statement that is emphatic and explicit (spoken or written)

From this reading RUBY’S DECLARATION.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

superlative of “faint” — deficient in magnitude; barely perceptible; lacking clarity or brightness or loudness etc

From this reading But that made Jim the more anxious not to take the faintest risk.

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading He resisted the temptation to pay a flying visit to Blackthorn Farm.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

moving swiftly

From this reading He resisted the temptation to pay a flying visit to Blackthorn Farm.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

undertake a journey or trip

From this reading Rupert was safe, a thousand miles or more away on his journey.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

go away from a place

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

plural of “mile” — a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading Rupert was safe, a thousand miles or more away on his journey.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Rupert was safe, a thousand miles or more away on his journey.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But that made Jim the more anxious not to take the faintest risk.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Rupert was safe, a thousand miles or more away on his journey.

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading He resisted the temptation to pay a flying visit to Blackthorn Farm.

make a promise or commitment

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

past form of “resist” — elude, especially in a baffling way

From this reading He resisted the temptation to pay a flying visit to Blackthorn Farm.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

a source of danger; a possibility of incurring loss or misfortune

From this reading But that made Jim the more anxious not to take the faintest risk.

a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

possessive form of “ruby” — a transparent piece of ruby that has been cut and polished and is valued as a precious gem

From this reading RUBY’S DECLARATION.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

English leader (born in Germany) of the Royalist forces during the English Civil War (1619-1682)

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading Rupert was safe, a thousand miles or more away on his journey.

try to locate or discover, or try to establish the existence of

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

inflected form of “stride” — walk with long steps

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

carry out

From this reading But that made Jim the more anxious not to take the faintest risk.

something that seduces or has the quality to seduce

From this reading He resisted the temptation to pay a flying visit to Blackthorn Farm.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

a special situation

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading Rupert was safe, a thousand miles or more away on his journey.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading He resisted the temptation to pay a flying visit to Blackthorn Farm.

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

From this reading The first thing Jim Crichton did—after he had made a successful return flight to Netheravon—was, on getting five days’ special leave, to run up to London and search for Ruby Strode that he might keep his promise to Rupert.