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Chapter XXVIII
If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed. For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard! I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself. "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless. "Yes!"
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.”
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading “I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “"Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
showing who or what does the action
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
belonging to the person speaking
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
not any; not one
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For once he outflanked me, caught me completely off my guard!
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading If Julian had suddenly popped down an apple on the top of my head, _a la_ Gessler and the son of William Tell, and thereupon proceeded to shoot it off, I could have been no more amazed.
in the company of; together with
From this reading I saw by the impish gleam in his eye how delighted he was with himself.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading "Yes or no, please; quick!" he fired the next volley as I stood speechless.
