Chapter II · A Mishap

later than; following

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

(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 All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

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

From this reading All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

a slight wind (usually refreshing)

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

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

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

past form of “demand” — request urgently and forcefully

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

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

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

the outside boundary or surface of something

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

let have

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

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

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

with strained or eager attention

From this reading All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

and nothing more

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

pass into a specified state or condition

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

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

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

occurring from time to time

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

and nothing more

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

-ing form of “prepare” — make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading All seemed quiet and serene.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading All seemed quiet and serene.

not agitated; without losing self-possession

From this reading All seemed quiet and serene.

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

-ing form of “sigh” — heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

a descent as through liquid (especially through water)

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

past form of “skirt” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

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

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

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

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading All three boys bent their heads and listened intently.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

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

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

plural of “treetop” — the upper branches and leaves of a tree or other plant

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

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

From this reading The only sound that came to them, however, was the soft sighing of the breeze through the treetops and the occasional call of some bird preparing to settle down for the night.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.

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

From this reading The sun was low in the west, just sinking below the fringe of the forest which skirted the little lake.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “What did you think you heard, Fred?” demanded Grant after the lapse of several moments.