Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

anew

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

(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 Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

past form of “allow” — make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

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

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.

in the middle of; surrounded by

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

a suite of rooms usually on one floor of an apartment house

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

at right angles to the center line of a ship

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

not in a state of sleep; completely conscious

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

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

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

bedding that keeps a person warm in bed

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

a youthful male person

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

of short duration or distance

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

with self-possession (especially in times of stress)

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

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

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

past form of “cause” — give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

inflected form of “char” — burn to charcoal

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

in a convenient manner

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

past form of “crouch” — bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

not carefully or expertly made

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

start firing a weapon

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.

A hot glowing body of ignited gas produced by fire.

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

plural of “fold” — an angular or rounded shape made by folding

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

feel about uncertainly or blindly

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

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

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

(law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

a game in which a child covers his eyes while the other players hide then tries to find them

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

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

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

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

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

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

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

most important element

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

reckless or malicious behavior that causes discomfort or annoyance in others

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

not divisible by two

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

an amount of time

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

-ing form of “place” — put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

made ready or fit or suitable beforehand

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

exploring in order to gain information

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

the state of being asleep

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

a painful and involuntary muscular contraction

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

not in physical motion

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

lacking natural ease

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

in or at that place or location

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

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

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

the swift release of a store of affective force

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

very small

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

plural of “tongue” — a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

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

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

at the time that

From this reading Still, when tiny tongues of flame played at hide-and-seek about the charred log, they caused all sorts of odd shadows to run athwart the walls.

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

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

-ing form of “whimper” — cry weakly or softly

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

spoken in soft hushed tones without vibrations of the vocal cords

From this reading "What in the mischief can it be?" whispered Hugh to himself as he allowed his hand to grope around for something he wanted, and which he remembered placing conveniently by at the time he prepared his crude bed.

in the company of; together with

From this reading SCOUTING AT MIDNIGHT It was certainly a queer sound that floated to the strained hearing of the boy as he crouched there on the floor of the room amidst the folds of his blanket and listened with might and main.

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

From this reading There followed a brief period of silence and then he felt a thrill, for it came again, a peculiar whimpering that would have given Billy a spasm of fright had he been awake to catch it, instead of calmly sleeping close by.

covered with or as if with clothes or a wrap or cloak

From this reading The fire had died down again so that the big apartment on the main floor was almost wrapped in darkness.