Chapter XVII · In the Hands of the Enemy

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

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

a person who enjoys taking risks

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

(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 Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

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

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

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

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

the qualities that give pleasure to the senses

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

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

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

approval

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

attractive especially by means of smallness or prettiness or quaintness

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

a challenge to do something dangerous or foolhardy

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

the event of dying or departure from life

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading Innumerable were the tales that were told of vain efforts to shoot or ensnare him.

take or catch as if in a snare or trap

From this reading Innumerable were the tales that were told of vain efforts to shoot or ensnare him.

at any time

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

the state or quality of being widely honored and acclaimed

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

plural of “feat” — a notable achievement

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

alert carnivorous mammal with pointed muzzle and ears and a bushy tail; most are predators that do not hunt in packs

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

past form of “gain” — obtain

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

in a gradual manner

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

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

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

a man distinguished by exceptional courage and nobility and strength

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

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

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

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

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

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

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

not accurate

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

too numerous to be counted

From this reading Innumerable were the tales that were told of vain efforts to shoot or ensnare him.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

set down according to a plan

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

the time between one event, process, or period and another

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

derogatory term for a variation that is not genuine; something irregular or inferior or of dubious origin

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

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

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

search without warning, make a sudden surprise attack on

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

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

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

inspiring fear

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

unusual or striking

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

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

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

plural of “settlement” — a body of people who settle far from home but maintain ties with their homeland; inhabitants remain nationals of their home state but are not literally under the home state's system of government

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

hit with a missile from a weapon

From this reading Innumerable were the tales that were told of vain efforts to shoot or ensnare him.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

having succeeded or being marked by a favorable outcome

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

plural of “tale” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading Innumerable were the tales that were told of vain efforts to shoot or ensnare him.

express in words

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

by ten times as much

From this reading A good story gained tenfold interest if Red Fox was made the hero of it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Innumerable were the tales that were told of vain efforts to shoot or ensnare him.

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

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

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

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Innumerable were the tales that were told of vain efforts to shoot or ensnare him.

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

characteristic of false pride; having an exaggerated sense of self-importance

From this reading Innumerable were the tales that were told of vain efforts to shoot or ensnare him.

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

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

a person who is regarded as treacherous or sneaky

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

(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 Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

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

From this reading Few, of course, had seen him; but all had heard of him, and were ready to tell more or less inaccurate stories of his feats of cunning and daring, as well as of his unusual size and remarkable beauty of colour.

a Caucasian

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.

an exploratory oil well drilled in land not known to be an oil field

From this reading And gradually it had come about that every successful raid of hawk or owl, weasel or wildcat, was laid to the credit of the redoubtable red adventurer.

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

From this reading In the meantime, ever since the worsting of the hunters and the death of the black and white mongrel, the fame of Red Fox had been growing throughout the settlements.