Chapter VII

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

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

any specific behavior

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading “All right,” said the head trapper.

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

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

(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 “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

plural of “brave” — a North American Indian warrior

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

a line leading to a place or point

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

the quality of being disagreeable and unpleasant

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

plural of “figure” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

the act of putting something in working order again

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

inflected form of “flit” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

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

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading “All right,” said the head trapper.

the side or slope of a hill

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

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

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

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

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

of or relating to or characteristic of India or the East Indies or their peoples or languages or cultures

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

the linear extent in space from one end to the other; the longest dimension of something that is fixed in place

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

set afire or burning

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

plural of “matthew” — (New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

of an obscure nature

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

express one's opinion openly and without fear or hesitation

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

past form of “retaliate” — take revenge for a perceived wrong

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

precisely, exactly

From this reading “All right,” said the head trapper.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “All right,” said the head trapper.

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

something or someone seen (especially a notable or unusual sight)

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

carry out

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

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

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

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

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

someone who sets traps for animals (usually to obtain their furs)

From this reading “All right,” said the head trapper.

plural of “trapper” — someone who sets traps for animals (usually to obtain their furs)

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading HOW THE TRAPPERS RETALIATED The Indian band lighted large fires upon the hillside that night; the tall figures of the braves could be seen flitting to and fro in mysterious activity.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading The trappers watched the unusual spectacle for quite a long time without comment.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading “And I opine, Cap’n Young, that I’d better take a little scout out in that direction and see what it is.”

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

From this reading “They are fixing up some kind of a disagreeableness for us,” spoke old Zeke Matthews, at length.