Chapter XII · The Victor

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading And the other bucks of the herd had been rambling about all summer in the higher hills.

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

plural of “antler” — deciduous horn of a member of the deer family

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

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

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

aroused or activated

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

an area of sand sloping down to the water of a sea or lake

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

plural of “bed” — a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

a noisy mock serenade (made by banging pans and kettles) to a newly married couple

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

to strive with determination

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

plural of “buck” — a gymnastic horse without pommels and with one end elongated; used lengthwise for vaulting

From this reading And the other bucks of the herd had been rambling about all summer in the higher hills.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

(used of hooves) split, divided

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

in a dainty and fastidious manner

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

(physics) a thermodynamic quantity equivalent to the capacity of a physical system to do work; the units of energy are joules or ergs

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

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

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

group of aircraft operating together under the same ownership

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

having brief brilliant points or flashes of light

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

(usually plural) an acknowledgment or expression of good will (especially on meeting)

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

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

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

pleasing in appearance especially by reason of conformity to ideals of form and proportion

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

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

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

a group of cattle or sheep or other domestic mammals all of the same kind that are herded by humans

From this reading And the other bucks of the herd had been rambling about all summer in the higher hills.

advanced in complexity or elaboration

From this reading And the other bucks of the herd had been rambling about all summer in the higher hills.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading And the other bucks of the herd had been rambling about all summer in the higher hills.

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

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

the foot of an ungulate mammal

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

someone who hunts game

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

look over carefully

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

past form of “kill” — cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

plural of “leaf” — the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

plural of “line” — a formation of people or things one beside another

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

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

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

plural of “lung” — either of two saclike respiratory organs in the chest of vertebrates; serves to remove carbon dioxide and provide oxygen to the blood

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

inflected form of “mean” — mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

make less severe or harsh

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

the light of the Moon

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

(of soil) soft and watery

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

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

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

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

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading And the other bucks of the herd had been rambling about all summer in the higher hills.

perfected or made shiny and smooth

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

plural of “print” — the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

spreading out in different directions or distributed irregularly

From this reading And the other bucks of the herd had been rambling about all summer in the higher hills.

cut with a saw

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Now the fawns had never seen their father, for he had been killed by a hunter.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

past form of “stamp” — walk heavily

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

be standing; be upright

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

not in physical motion

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading And the other bucks of the herd had been rambling about all summer in the higher hills.

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.

the upper part of anything

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

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

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

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

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

at the time that

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

which person or people

From this reading They now saw Fleet Foot mince daintily down to inspect the new-comer, who was belling his greeting at the top of his lungs.

exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity

From this reading One evening when the frost lay glittering in the moonlight, the fawns were suddenly awakened, in their soft beds of drifted leaves, by a loud belling down on the lake shore; and wide-eyed, they tip-toed down to see what it meant.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There on the muddy beach—stamped with long lines of little cloven hoof prints—stood a handsome buck, with polished antlers, dancing about as if too full of energy to stand still.