Chapter XX

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

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

of or relating to the nations of Africa or their peoples

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

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

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

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

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

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

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

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

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

to grip, cut off, or tear with or as if with the teeth or jaws

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

a high steep bank (usually formed by river erosion)

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

plural of “cell” — any small compartment

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

a pair who associate with one another

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

placed crosswise

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

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

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

slowness as a consequence of not getting around to it

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

a small syringe with detachable nozzles; used for vaginal lavage and enemas

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

possessive form of “fellow” — a boy or man

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

record in a public office or in a court of law

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

past form of “grapple” — succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

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

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

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

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

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

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

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

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

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

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

and nothing more

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

immediately past

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

one of the contractile organs of the body

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

any person in the armed services who holds a position of authority or command

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

(American football) a play that involves one player throwing the ball to a teammate

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

a correctional institution where persons are confined while on trial or for punishment

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

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

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

plural of “prisoner” — a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

of or relating to pugilism or pugilists

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

the act of punishing

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

-ing form of “receive” — get something; come into possession of

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

a particular branch of scientific knowledge

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

past form of “secure” — get by special effort

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

past form of “seize” — take hold of; grab

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

past form of “sound” — appear in a certain way

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

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

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

dependable

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

plural of “task” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

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

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

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

From this reading The bell sounded at Bluff Hill Prison, to call the prisoners to their tasks.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

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

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

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

From this reading Percy and a stout negro were the last couple in the file.

which person or people

From this reading Just as they were about passing in, the African, who had received the punishment of the douche the day previous, for dilatoriness at his task, sprang upon the officer in waiting, and seized him by the throat.

belonging to which person

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Percy, whose pugilistic science was a match for the African’s muscle, grappled with and secured him in an instant, receiving, as he did so, a severe bite from the fellow’s teeth, in his left shoulder.

plural of “workshop” — small workplace where handcrafts or manufacturing are done

From this reading They passed out from their cells and crossed, two by two, the prison-yard to their workshops.