Chapter XVI

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

filled with fear or apprehension

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

filled with the emotional impact of overwhelming surprise or shock

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

move up and down repeatedly

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

a cruel and brutal fellow

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

plural of “chapter” — a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

an imaginary person represented in a work of fiction (play or film or story)

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

not invading healthy tissue

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

act on verbally or in some form of artistic expression

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

arising from or marked by despair or loss of hope

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

undergo or live through a difficult experience

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

give expression to

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

emotional or moral sensitivity (especially in relation to personal principles or dignity)

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

someone who has committed a crime or has been legally convicted of a crime

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

plural of “fight” — a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

plural of “game” — a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

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

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

past form of “imagine” — form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

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

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

having or showing profound knowledge

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

The state of being free within society from oppressive restrictions on one's way of life.

From this reading BOB FIGHTS FOR HIS LIBERTY.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

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

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

express in words

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

up to a particular time

From this reading He had never imagined Sam to be so desperate a character, and never, until then, had he felt in the least afraid of him.

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

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

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

From this reading Being taken prisoner, and confined like a felon, were new chapters in his experience.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.

which person or people

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He had always believed himself to be able to beat the bully at any of his games; but he now had learned that he had to deal with one who was quite as smart as himself.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading To say that the fisher-boy was astonished at what had taken place, would not half express his feelings.