Chapter X · Chapter 10

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

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

(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 To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

wait in hiding to attack

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

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

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

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

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

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

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

according with custom or propriety

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN THE FIGHT.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN THE FIGHT.

a youthful male person

From this reading Will the boy never move?

the wood cut from a tree burl or outgrowth; often used decoratively in veneer

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN THE FIGHT.

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

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

a slow mode of locomotion on hands and knees or dragging the body

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

past form of “deliver” — deliver (a speech, oration, or idea)

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

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

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

in a dragging manner

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN THE FIGHT.

(of e.g. fabric design) adorned with patterns

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN THE FIGHT.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

having a usually specified type of handle

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

weapon consisting of a fighting ax; used by North American Indians

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

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

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

(of movement) lacking ease or lightness

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN THE FIGHT.

someone who hunts game

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN THE FIGHT.

of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

incapable of being justified or explained

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

possessing or displaying a distinctive feature to a heightened degree

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

immediately past

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

a particular point in time

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

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

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

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

From this reading Will the boy never move?

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Will the boy never move?

moving quickly and lightly

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

plural of “pace” — the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

plural of “second” — 1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

apprehension about what is going to happen

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

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

From this reading HOW BIG BLACK BURL FIGURED IN THE FIGHT.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

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

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

nut of any of various walnut trees having a wrinkled two-lobed seed with a hard shell

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

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

From this reading To the black hunter, there lying in ambush, the suspense was becoming all but insupportable.

look attentively

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

-ing form of “whittle” — cut small bits or pare shavings from

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

which person or people

From this reading At last the hatchet was handled and delivered to the impatient Bushie, who, the moment he received it, sprung forward to try its edge on the bark of a large walnut that grew a few paces in front of them.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading Will the boy never move?

in the company of; together with

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading With an interest far more intense than that of the boy did he watch the nimble fingers of the young Indian, as the whittling task went on--the heavy-footed seconds creeping draggingly by, and made, by the suspense, to seem as long as minutes.