Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

further or added

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

(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 If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

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

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

sloping land (especially the slope beside a body of water)

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

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

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

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

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

exhale hard

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

commit a faux pas or a fault or make a serious mistake

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

a person who is in charge

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

a steep high face of rock

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

-ing form of “fear” — be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

pause or hold back in uncertainty or unwillingness

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

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

From this reading IN THE WILDERNESS.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

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

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

above and across; more than

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

by chance

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

a precautionary measure warding off impending danger or damage or injury etc.

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

a reason for wanting something done

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

a guided missile fired from land or shipboard against an airborne target

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

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

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

intensely or extremely bad or unpleasant in degree or quality

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

an acrobatic feat in which the feet roll over the head (either forward or backward) and return

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

move hurridly

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

a person suffering from an illness

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

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

From this reading IN THE WILDERNESS.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

propel through the air

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

male cat

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

the upper part of anything

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

past form of “urge” — force or impel in an indicated direction

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

precisely as stated

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

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

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading If he could keep his horse under him all the way, however, the animal and not he would be the chief sufferer.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Fearing that the horse would hesitate at the cliff, blunder, and throw him a somersault, perhaps falling on him, he held the beast's head high and urged him forward at full speed, and so, as we have seen, the horse's back was almost level as he leaped from the top of the bank.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

at the time that

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

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

From this reading When Sam went over the cliff, he thought of poor little Judie, and Tom and Joe, and, for their sake more than his own, took every precaution which might give him an additional chance of life.

(politics) a state of disfavor

From this reading IN THE WILDERNESS.

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

From this reading He knew that he should fall into the creek, and that the blow, when he struck the water, would be a very severe one.