Chapter XXIV · The Ambuscade

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

plural of “action” — something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

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

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

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

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

nocturnal mouselike mammal with forelimbs modified to form membranous wings and anatomical adaptations for echolocation by which they navigate

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

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

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

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

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

opinion or judgment

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

the act of putting something in working order again

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

tallest living quadruped; having a spotted coat and small horns and very long neck and legs; of savannahs of tropical Africa

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

a facial expression characterized by turning up the corners of the mouth; usually shows pleasure or amusement

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

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

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

easy to reach

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

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

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

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

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

an impression that something might be the case

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

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

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

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

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

a metal pot for stewing or boiling; usually has a lid

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

a person who rules or guides or inspires others

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

comparative of “loud” — characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

in your mind

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

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

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

express in words

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

a thing, without saying which

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

comparatives of “soon” or “early”

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

past form of “stow” — fill by packing tightly

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

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

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

in spite of the fact that

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

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

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

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

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

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

From this reading It was a club almost the size of a baseball bat, one of those home-run kind boys talk about, and call "the old wagon-tongue."

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Well, here's a nice kettle of fish!" burst out Bumpus, fixing his eyes on the scout leader, as though mentally asking what Thad meant to do.

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

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

morally bad in principle or practice

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With a really wicked grin he reached down and took something in his hand which it seemed he had stowed away in the body of the car.

the words that are spoken

From this reading The actions of Giraffe spoke louder than words could have done.

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

From this reading "Say, I had a sort of hunch this would come in handy sooner or later, and now I know it!"