Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

possessing life

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

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

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

a structure or object that impedes free movement

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

a signal transmitted along a narrow path; guides airplane pilots in darkness or bad weather

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

the bodily process of inhalation and exhalation; the process of taking in oxygen from inhaled air and releasing carbon dioxide by exhalation

From this reading Breathing satisfied him pretty well for a while.

physically and forcibly separated into pieces or cracked or split

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

past form of “crawl” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

made less hopeful or enthusiastic

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

the act of escaping physically

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Breathing satisfied him pretty well for a while.

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

set up or found

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

a first-year undergraduate

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

cut open

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

a young female

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

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

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

praise vociferously

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

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

From this reading Breathing satisfied him pretty well for a while.

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

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

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

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

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

the activity of leading

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

possessive form of “minute” — a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

a condition requiring relief

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

not any; not one

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

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

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

above and across; more than

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

designed or carried out according to a plan

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading Breathing satisfied him pretty well for a while.

inflected form of “ring” — sound loudly and sonorously

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

plural of “rescuer” — a person who rescues you from harm or danger

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

filled with satisfaction

From this reading Breathing satisfied him pretty well for a while.

not marked by the use of reason

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

express in words

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

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

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

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

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

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

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

used of persons or their behavior; feeling no shame

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

precisely as stated

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

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

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

(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 He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

at the time that

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

in or at the place that

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

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

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

during the time that

From this reading And while he lay unconscious, the papers of the country rang with the story of what he had done, and his father sitting by his bed read it, through unashamed tears, but Johnny took no interest.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Johnny McLean carried out senseless, with an arm broken, with a gash in his forehead done by a falling beam as he crawled to hail the rescuers--but Johnny McLean alive.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading There is no need to tell over what the papers told--how he had taken the leadership of the demoralized band; how when he found them cut off from the escape which he had planned he had set them to work building a barrier across a passage where the air was fresher; how behind this barrier they had lived for six days, by the faith and courage of Johnny McLean.

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

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.

but in spite of that

From this reading He was very ill, yet the girl had not a minute's doubt that he would get well.