Chapter I

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

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

anew

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

with anger

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

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

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "Don't let him get away!"

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

insulting terms of address for people who are stupid or irritating or ridiculous

From this reading "There goes the little bastard now!"

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

on the far side of; further than

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

a black bituminous material used for paving roads or other areas; usually spread over crushed rock

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

plural of “body” — the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

a youthful male person

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

dearly loved

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

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

From this reading "Don't let him get away!"

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

the power to withstand hardship or stress

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

plural of “explosion” — a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

to a faint degree or weakly perceived

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A scant hundred yards separated pursued from pursuers.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "Don't let him get away!"

plural of “go” — a time period for working (after which you will be relieved by someone else)

From this reading "There goes the little bastard now!"

consisting of one of two equivalent parts in value or quantity

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

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

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

ten 10s

From this reading A scant hundred yards separated pursued from pursuers.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

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

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

an animal skin made smooth and flexible by removing the hair and then tanning

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

plural of “limit” — the greatest possible degree of something

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

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

From this reading "There goes the little bastard now!"

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

plural of “muscle” — one of the contractile organs of the body

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

conforming with or constituting a norm or standard or level or type or social norm; not abnormal

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

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

From this reading "There goes the little bastard now!"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

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

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

above and across; more than

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

a person who is being chased

From this reading A scant hundred yards separated pursued from pursuers.

plural of “pursuer” — a person who is pursuing and trying to overtake or capture

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

with speed

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so

From this reading A scant hundred yards separated pursued from pursuers.

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

being or feeling set or kept apart from others

From this reading A scant hundred yards separated pursued from pursuers.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

hit with something flat, like a paddle or the open hand

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

plural of “sol” — a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

plural of “sound” — the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

having the sticky properties of an adhesive

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

past form of “suck” — draw into the mouth by creating a practical vacuum in the mouth

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

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

From this reading Behind him came the sounds of half a dozen pursuers, the faintly sticky slap of leather soles coming down on summer-hot blacktopping and the sharp explosions of breath let out and sucked back in quickly as out-of-condition bodies forced muscles angrily beyond normal limits of endurance.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

in or at that place or location

From this reading "There goes the little bastard now!"

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

which person or people

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading A scant hundred yards separated pursued from pursuers.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

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

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _For those of you who may be sentimentalists about what you'd do if you could live your life over again, here is the real lowdown about that...._ The boy was twelve, and running for dear life.