Chapter XXV · In Which Dan Hears the Clock Strike One

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

later than; following

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

anew

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

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

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

The middle point or core of an area.

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

not accessible to view

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

maintain or assert

From this reading But this is something with which you will doubtless never contend.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

dearly loved

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

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

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

without doubt; certainly

From this reading But this is something with which you will doubtless never contend.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

being one more than ten

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

at any time

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

an act that fails

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

planned and made or fashioned artistically

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

inflected form of “forbid” — command against

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

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

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

a small cone-shaped pile of hay that has been left in the field until it is dry enough to carry to the hayrick

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

the vertical dimension of extension; distance from the base of something to the top

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

past form of “hinge” — attach with a hinge

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading But this is something with which you will doubtless never contend.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

gain knowledge or skills

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

plural of “lie” — a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

fasten with a lock

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

(baseball) the slight elevation on which the pitcher stands

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading But this is something with which you will doubtless never contend.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

a public square with room for pedestrians

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

the act of physically reaching or thrusting out

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

try to get or reach

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

any spatial attributes (especially as defined by outline)

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

dependable

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

carry out

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

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

From this reading But this is something with which you will doubtless never contend.

push forcefully

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

a metallic tapping sound

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

inflected form of “tug” — pull hard

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

stubbornly unyielding

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

a long depression in the surface of the land that usually contains a river

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

precisely as stated

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

plural of “vine” — a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

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

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading But did you seek to open them to learn what might be concealed underneath, you would discover that something forbade you to do so.

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

From this reading But this is something with which you will doubtless never contend.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.

the extent of something from side to side

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading But this is something with which you will doubtless never contend.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But this is something with which you will doubtless never contend.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading And were you to thrust the vines to one side, you would find that they covered the face of two wooden doors, so fashioned and hinged as to part in the middle.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Now should you ever, like Dan, some day visit the Valley of Tick Tock, and, reaching the plaza that lies in the very center of Micetown, take eleven steps to the east and then ten to the south, you would, like as not, come upon a vine-covered mound something of the width, the shape and the height of a haycock.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading And after you had tugged, and then tugged again, and probably said “Oh, dear,” at your failure, you would seek out the reason and find it to be a stout and wholly unyielding lock.