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 He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.

From this reading "Old Flank'em, of the Finishing Academy, by jingo!" exclaimed Sugarlips.

in actual fact

From this reading Why, he must actually have been on the point of turning the corner.

Having no one else present.

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

the space between two lines or planes that intersect; the inclination of one line to another; measured in degrees or radians

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

inflected form of “behold” — see with attention

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading "Old Flank'em, of the Finishing Academy, by jingo!" exclaimed Sugarlips.

an enclosure made or wire or metal bars in which birds or animals can be kept

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

plural of “catch” — a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

a person who is being chased

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Why, he must actually have been on the point of turning the corner.

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

From this reading "It's a mercy we didn't finish him!

a clergyman; especially a settled minister or parson

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

five-toed pachyderm

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

past form of “exclaim” — utter aloud; often with surprise, horror, or joy

From this reading "Old Flank'em, of the Finishing Academy, by jingo!" exclaimed Sugarlips.

plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

come or bring to a finish or an end

From this reading "It's a mercy we didn't finish him!

a decorative texture or appearance of a surface (or the substance that gives it that appearance)

From this reading "Old Flank'em, of the Finishing Academy, by jingo!" exclaimed Sugarlips.

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

From this reading "Old Flank'em, of the Finishing Academy, by jingo!" exclaimed Sugarlips.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

set up or found

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

the rate of moving (especially walking or running)

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

a man of refinement

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Why, he must actually have been on the point of turning the corner.

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading "It's a mercy we didn't finish him!

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

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading "It's a mercy we didn't finish him!

an extreme bellicose nationalist

From this reading "Old Flank'em, of the Finishing Academy, by jingo!" exclaimed Sugarlips.

give equal rights to; of women and minorities

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice

From this reading "It's a mercy we didn't finish him!

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading Why, he must actually have been on the point of turning the corner.

(Latin) nil; nothing (as used by a sheriff after an unsuccessful effort to serve a writ)

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

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

From this reading "Old Flank'em, of the Finishing Academy, by jingo!" exclaimed Sugarlips.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Why, he must actually have been on the point of turning the corner.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

-ing form of “peep” — look furtively

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading Why, he must actually have been on the point of turning the corner.

euphemisms for “fat”

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

plural of “sparrow” — any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

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

From this reading "Old Flank'em, of the Finishing Academy, by jingo!" exclaimed Sugarlips.

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading Why, he must actually have been on the point of turning the corner.

difficult to use or handle or manage because of size or weight or shape

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

capable of being seen; or open to easy view

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "It's a mercy we didn't finish him!

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

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Why, he must actually have been on the point of turning the corner.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading I think we had better be off; for, if the old dominie catches us, he will certainly liberate our sparrows, and --put us in the cage!"

in the company of; together with

From this reading He found it really "vox et preterea nihil;" for a few feathers of the bird alone were visible: he had been blown to nothing; and, peeping cautiously round the angle of the wall, he beheld a portly gentleman in black running along with the unwieldy gait of a chased elephant.