Chapter VII · Chapter 7

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

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The door was there, a locking bar across it.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

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

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

From this reading The door was there, a locking bar across it.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

showing who or what does the action

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

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

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

coming down or downward

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The door was there, a locking bar across it.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

set up or found

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

a state of partial or total darkness

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

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

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

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

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

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

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

plural of “hunter” — someone who hunts game

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

set down according to a plan

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

the act of locking something up to protect it

From this reading The door was there, a locking bar across it.

United States poet (1869-1950)

From this reading If the box was a hound for hunters, had it already drawn its masters to this building?

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

not divisible by two

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

on one occasion

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

having a hole cut through

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

plural of “portion” — something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

an inclined surface connecting two levels

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

food that is discarded (as from a kitchen)

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

make a shift in or exchange of

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

having a sharp inclination

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

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

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The door was there, a locking bar across it.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

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

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

make an effort or attempt

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

up to a particular time

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Dalgard did not try to shift that at once, although he laid his hands upon it.

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

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

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading And the gloom of the next floor was broken by odd scraps of light which showed through pierced portions of the decorative bands.

during the time that

From this reading On his hands and knees the scout crept along what must have been a short hall until he found a second descending ramp, this one less steep than the first, so that he was able to keep to his feet while using it.