Chapter XVIII · Dangerous Ground

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading I’m Mr. Akerson.”

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

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

From this reading “Oh, yes, you are the lady who ’phoned me?

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

accept as true; take to be true

From this reading “I don’t believe I have your name.

a youthful male person

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

a stick that people can lean on to help them walk

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “I don’t believe I have your name.

opinion or judgment

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I don’t believe I have your name.

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

a period of time equal to 1/24th of a day

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “I don’t believe I have your name.

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

From this reading I’m Mr. Akerson.”

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading “Oh, yes, you are the lady who ’phoned me?

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Oh, yes, you are the lady who ’phoned me?

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

a form of address for a man

From this reading I’m Mr. Akerson.”

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “I don’t believe I have your name.

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

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading “Oh, yes, you are the lady who ’phoned me?

past form of “phone” — get or try to get into communication (with someone) by telephone

From this reading “Oh, yes, you are the lady who ’phoned me?

(of pain or sorrow) made easier to bear

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

inclined to a healthy reddish color often associated with outdoor life

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

successive (without a break)

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

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

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

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

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

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

From this reading “I’m Octavia Travers,” answered Tavia, looking straight into the brown eyes of Mr. Akerson.

during the time that

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

which person or people

From this reading “Oh, yes, you are the lady who ’phoned me?

in the company of; together with

From this reading “Miss——,” began a man with a ruddy face and heavy gray hair, as he stood in front of Tavia, almost an hour later, while a small boy relieved him of his great fur coat and cane.

an affirmative

From this reading “Oh, yes, you are the lady who ’phoned me?

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Oh, yes, you are the lady who ’phoned me?

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I don’t believe I have your name.