Chapter XXIII

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

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

inflected form of “admit” — declare to be true or admit the existence or reality or truth of

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

(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 "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

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

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

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

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

(sometimes followed by “of”) having or showing knowledge or understanding or realization or perception

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading WHEN VILLA CAME.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

the act of closing something

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading "Hasn't the time come yet, Rob?" pleaded Andy.

plural of “comrade” — a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

a state at a particular time

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

coming down freely under the influence of gravity

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading "Hasn't the time come yet, Rob?" pleaded Andy.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

past form of “plead” — appeal or request earnestly

From this reading "Hasn't the time come yet, Rob?" pleaded Andy.

in the near future

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

past form of “question” — challenge the accuracy, probity, or propriety of

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

precisely, exactly

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

take something away by force or without the consent of the owner

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

a person employed to keep watch for some anticipated event

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading How about that, Rob?" questioned Andy presently, as a new burst of shots rang out.

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

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

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

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

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

From this reading "Seems to me they are dropping down closer and closer all the time.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

Mexican revolutionary leader (1877-1923)

From this reading WHEN VILLA CAME.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

(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 "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

at the time that

From this reading WHEN VILLA CAME.

used to introduce two or more possibilities

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

which person or people

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

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

From this reading "They are closing in some, for a fact," admitted the scout master, who had been well aware of this condition right along, though up to now he had kept it to himself, waiting to ascertain whether any one of his comrades would notice it.

but in spite of that

From this reading "Hasn't the time come yet, Rob?" pleaded Andy.