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Chapter IX
THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim. He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow. But, no, the first had done its work. Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard. His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.”
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But, no, the first had done its work.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “But, no, the first had done its work.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.”
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading “He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.”
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading “THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.”
a formal word for “on”
From this reading “He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
at the same time that; because; in the way that
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But, no, the first had done its work.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, no, the first had done its work.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading But, no, the first had done its work.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading But, no, the first had done its work.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
the -ing form of “have”
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned
From this reading But, no, the first had done its work.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
not any; not one
From this reading But, no, the first had done its work.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
a story-specific word describing an important person, object, action, or idea in this passage
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading His assailant touched him with his foot, as if to make quite sure.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
a formal word for “on”
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading THE FLYMAN The assailant remained, for a second or two, looking down on his recumbent victim.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
which person or people
From this reading Mr Holland lay quite still, in an ugly heap, as men only lie who have been stricken hard.
in the company of; together with
From this reading He retained his grip upon his weapon, as if anticipating the possibility of having to strike with it another blow.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But, no, the first had done its work.
