Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

plural of “african” — a native or inhabitant of Africa

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

later than; following

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

(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 My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

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

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

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

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

plural of “ballad” — a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

damaged by blows or hard usage

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

for the reason that

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

give a benediction to

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading But I do love blood.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

possessing or displaying courage; able to face and deal with danger or fear without flinching

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

plural of “care” — the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading But I do love blood.

plural of “elephant” — five-toed pachyderm

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

at any time

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

to or in any or all places

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

give expression to

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

a boy or man

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

plural of “gash” — a wound made by cutting

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

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

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

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

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

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

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

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

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

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

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

staying power

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

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

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

a powerful wooden bow drawn by hand; usually 5-6 feet long; used in medieval England

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

inflected form of “lop” — cut off from a whole

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading But I do love blood.

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

kill a large number of people indiscriminately

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

the force of workers available

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

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

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

not any; not one

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

no person; not anyone

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

cause to feel resentment or indignation

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

above and across; more than

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

repeat a passage from

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

-ing form of “quote” — repeat a passage from

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

in accordance with fixed order or procedure or principle

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

plural of “river” — a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

uttered with a trill

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

plural of “slash” — a wound made by cutting

From this reading I love it in regular rivers all over the place, with gashes and slashes and lopped heads and arms and legs rolling about everywhere.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

a person, without saying who

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

plural of “soul” — the immaterial part of a person; the actuating cause of an individual life

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

comparative of “sure” — having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

express in words

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading And, after all, I am not certain that black men have any souls, so that makes things safe all round, as someone says in the _Bab Ballads_.

plural of “thousand” — the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

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

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

a former United Kingdom silver coin; United Kingdom bronze decimal coin worth two pennies

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

a collection containing a variety of sorts of things

From this reading Black blood is the best variety; I mean the blood of black men, because nobody really cares twopence about them, and you can massacre several thousands of them in half-a-dozen lines and offend no single soul.

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

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

at the time that

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

which person or people

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

in the company of; together with

From this reading I am not a brave man, but nobody ever was a surer shot with an Express longbow, and no one ever killed more Africans, men and elephants, than I have in my time.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

the act of creating written works

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

a former large county in northern England; in 1974 it was divided into three smaller counties

From this reading My name is SMALLUN HALFBOY, a curious name for an old fellow like me, who have been battered and knocked about all over the world from Yorkshire to South Africa.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading I'm not much of a hand at writing, but, bless your heart, I know the _Bab Ballads_ by heart, and I can tell you it's no end of a joke quoting them everywhere, especially when you quote out of an entirely different book.