Chapter XII · The Iron Collar

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

anew

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

any of several large deciduous trees with rounded spreading crowns and smooth grey bark and small sweet edible triangular nuts enclosed in burs; north temperate regions

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

fern of southeastern Asia; not hardy in cold temperate regions

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

superlative of “bright” — emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

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

From this reading Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby.

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

provide with a covering or cause to be covered

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

inflected form of “drop” — let fall to the ground

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

past form of “filter” — remove by passing through a filter

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

dismiss from the mind; stop remembering

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

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

From this reading Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

swift timid long-eared mammal larger than a rabbit having a divided upper lip and long hind legs; young born furred and with open eyes

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby.

marked by or promising bad fortune

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

city in central South Africa; center for diamond mining and diamond marketing

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

in a healthy manner

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

engage in

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

reddish-brown grouse of upland moors of Great Britain

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

used when we are both doing the action and receiving it

From this reading Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby.

above your head; in the sky

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

past form of “promise” — make a promise or commitment

From this reading Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby.

not widely known; especially valued for its uncommonness

From this reading Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby.

the stealing of cattle

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

past form of “scamper” — to move about or proceed hurriedly

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

past form of “scuttle” — to move about or proceed hurriedly

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

plural of “snow” — precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

plural of “sorrow” — an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

From this reading Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby.

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

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

the rays of the sun

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

in an affectionate or loving manner (“sweet” is sometimes a poetic or informal variant of “sweetly”)

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

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

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

plural of “treetop” — the upper branches and leaves of a tree or other plant

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

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

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

under the feet

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

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

From this reading The sky overhead was of brightest blue, and the sunlight filtered sweetly through the boughs of oak and beech that now had dropped the half of their leaves to make a rustling carpet underfoot.

plural of “wind” — air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading In the treetops the birds sang lustily, making the best of the smiling time that comes before the winter’s winds and snows.

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

From this reading Now and again a woodmouse scampered on fallen log, a hare sprang away from her form, or a moorfowl scuttled to cover in the bracken.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading Cedric and I had promised ourselves rare sport in the woods of Grimsby.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading A year had passed since our ill-fated venture beneath the walls of Kimberley, and ’twas such an autumn morning as makes one forget his cares and sorrows and those of a strife-torn world, and believe in the coming of a better day.