Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

anew

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

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

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

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

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

operating with minimal human intervention; independent of external control

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

plural of “bearing” — relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

go after with the intent to catch

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

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

From this reading He could have shot the man, as the other stood in the doorway.

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

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

possessive form of “dale” — an open river valley (in a hilly area)

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

the entrance (the space in a wall) through which you enter or leave a room or building; the space that a door can close

From this reading He could have shot the man, as the other stood in the doorway.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

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

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

at or to or toward the front

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

a component of a mixture that has been separated by a fractional process

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

marked by extreme and violent energy

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

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

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He could have shot the man, as the other stood in the doorway.

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

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

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

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

the act of retaining something

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

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

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

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

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

of comparatively little physical weight or density

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He could have shot the man, as the other stood in the doorway.

be compatible, similar or consistent; coincide in their characteristics

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

not any; not one

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He could have shot the man, as the other stood in the doorway.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

Identical; not different.

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

rescued; especially from the power and consequences of sin

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

-ing form of “scuffle” — walk by dragging one's feet

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading He could have shot the man, as the other stood in the doorway.

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

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading He could have shot the man, as the other stood in the doorway.

a reference point to shoot at

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

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

From this reading THE CHASE It held for the fraction of a second, that light--no more.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

push forcefully

From this reading Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

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

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

familiar with many parts of the world

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

directed up

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

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 Jimmie Dale's automatic was thrust a little forward in his hand, as he crouched against the wall.

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

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

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

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

any of various predatory carnivorous canine mammals of North America and Eurasia that usually hunt in packs

From this reading It travelled upward past the face, as though the Wolf were holding it above his head to get his bearings; and then, with a sharp and furious oath, the match was hurled to the floor, there was a scuffling sound--and then silence again.

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

From this reading The Wolf had offered a target that it would have been hard to miss--and it would, one day, have saved the law the same task!