Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

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

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Tricasse stared at him, incapable of speech.

stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

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

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

marked by lack of attention or consideration or forethought or thoroughness; not careful

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

as if with kid gloves; with caution or prudence or tact

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading We must start this evening."

the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

in a gradual manner

From this reading "Very well," said Jack, gently, "think it over.

a person of German nationality

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

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

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

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

From this reading Tricasse stared at him, incapable of speech.

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

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

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

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

(followed by “of”) lacking capacity or ability

From this reading Tricasse stared at him, incapable of speech.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Very well," said Jack, gently, "think it over.

a small worthless amount

From this reading "Very well," said Jack, gently, "think it over.

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 Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

property that is leased or rented out or let

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

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

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading We must start this evening."

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Tricasse stared at him, incapable of speech.

above and across; more than

From this reading "Very well," said Jack, gently, "think it over.

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

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

by chance

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

with speed

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Very well," said Jack, gently, "think it over.

plural of “sapling” — young tree

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

with low volume

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

the act of delivering a formal spoken communication to an audience

From this reading Tricasse stared at him, incapable of speech.

past form of “stare” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Tricasse stared at him, incapable of speech.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading We must start this evening."

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

express in words

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

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

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "Very well," said Jack, gently, "think it over.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading We must start this evening."

-ing form of “tread” — put down or press the foot, place the foot

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

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

From this reading Tricasse stared at him, incapable of speech.

(used in the plural) trousers that end at or above the knee

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

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

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

precisely as stated

From this reading "Very well," said Jack, gently, "think it over.

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

From this reading He turned and descended the bank rapidly, letting himself down by the trunks of the birch saplings, treading softly and cautiously over stones and dead leaves, for the road was so near that a careless footstep might perhaps be heard by passing Uhlans.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Tell me, at least, how we can avoid the German lines.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Very well," said Jack, gently, "think it over.