Chapter IX

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

at or in the front

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

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

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

for the reason that

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

any bird of the family Icteridae whose male is black or predominantly black

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

the stalk of a corn plant

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

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

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

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

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

an excavation for ore or precious stones or for archaeology

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading “Now I wonder what he’s doing there?”

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

at any time

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

plural of “footstep” — the sound of a step of someone walking

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading “Now I wonder what he’s doing there?”

not accessible to view

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading “Now I wonder what he’s doing there?”

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

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

and nothing more

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

plural of “mitten” — glove that encases the thumb separately and the other four fingers together

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

bite off very small pieces

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

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

From this reading “Now I wonder what he’s doing there?”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

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

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

North American blackbird with scarlet patches on the wings

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

an elastic material obtained from the latex sap of trees (especially trees of the genera Hevea and Ficus) that can be vulcanized and finished into a variety of products

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

plural of “slip” — a socially awkward or tactless act

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

a crocheted or knitted garment covering the upper part of the body

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

a portable shelter (usually of canvas stretched over supporting poles and fastened to the ground with ropes and pegs)

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

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

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

in or at that place or location

From this reading “Now I wonder what he’s doing there?”

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

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

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

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

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

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

a source of difficulty

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

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

From this reading NIBBLE DIGS INTO TROUBLE—AND SLIPS OUT Suddenly Nibble put up his ears and put down his nose in great surprise.

precisely as stated

From this reading For he could see Tommy Peele’s footsteps following his own trail, just ahead of him, and Tommy Peele’s dark blue sweater and red mittens looking more than ever like Redwing the Blackbird, not so very far away.

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

From this reading He couldn’t see Tommy’s tall rubber boots because they were hidden behind the cornstalk tent down in the Broad Field.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Now I wonder what he’s doing there?”

in or at the place that

From this reading Then he hopped up on to the grey stone where he had hidden from Tommy Peele, and looked carefully about him.

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading “Now I wonder what he’s doing there?”