Chapter VI

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

using the voice; not silently

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

a cherished desire

From this reading My ambition does not rise so high.

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence or deeply revered.

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

an old form of “are”, used with “thou”

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

-ing form of “attempt” — make an effort or attempt

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

a Chadic language spoken in northern Nigeria

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

possessive form of “captain” — an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading THE CAPTAIN’S STORY.

confess to a punishable or reprehensible deed, usually under pressure

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

distinguished from Bovidae by the male's having solid deciduous antlers

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

plural of “department” — a specialized division of a large organization

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading My ambition does not rise so high.

a member of a people living in southern Benin and Togo and southeastern Ghana

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

plural of “gentleman” — a man of refinement

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

praise vociferously

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

adult female chicken

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading My ambition does not rise so high.

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

Roman lyric poet said to have influenced English poetry (65-8 BC)

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

past form of “lock” — fasten with a lock

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

not any; not one

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading My ambition does not rise so high.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

move upward

From this reading My ambition does not rise so high.

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

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

plural of “secret” — something that should remain hidden from others (especially information that is not to be passed on)

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading My ambition does not rise so high.

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 THE CAPTAIN’S STORY.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

too old to be useful

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

plural of “thought” — the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

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

From this reading “Called aloud on Tully’s name, And bade the father of his country hail!”

below the required standards for a purpose

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

completely and without qualification; used informally as intensifiers

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

a manservant who acts as a personal attendant to his employer

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

moral weakness

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”

migratory

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Since then, what wandering thoughts I may have had of attempting the life of an ancient ewe, of a superannuated hen, and such “small deer,” are locked up in the secrets of my own breast; but for the higher departments of the art, I confess myself to be utterly unfit.

the words that are spoken

From this reading No, gentlemen, in the words of Horace,-- “Fungar vice cotis, acutum Reddere quæ ferrum valet, exsors ipsa secandi.”