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 She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

aimlessly drifting

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

anew

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

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

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

any of various aromatic resinous substances used for healing and soothing

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

the lowest part of the musical range

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

form a curve

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

a youthful male person

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

the act of burning something

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

make calm or still

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

(plural) the deepest and most remote part

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

any of various mostly cold-blooded aquatic vertebrates usually having scales and breathing through gills

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

past form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

plural of “get” — a return on a shot that seemed impossible to reach and would normally have resulted in a point for the opponent

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

a young female

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

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

From this reading Slowly he untied the string from his reddened wrist and pulled the arrow in.

not having a head or formed without a head

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

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

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

make a sharp hissing sound, as if to show disapproval

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

with indifference; in an indifferent manner

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

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

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

no longer active or practicing

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

past form of “leap” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

the act of departing

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

terms referring to the Judeo-Christian God

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

the deliberate act of deviating from the truth

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

in a submissive or spiritless manner

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

not any; not one

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

a fence made of upright pickets

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

cornbread often made without milk or eggs and baked or fried

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

past form of “pull” — cause to move by pulling

From this reading Slowly he untied the string from his reddened wrist and pulled the arrow in.

(especially of the face) reddened or suffused with or as if with blood from emotion or exertion

From this reading Slowly he untied the string from his reddened wrist and pulled the arrow in.

(American football) an attempt to advance the ball by running into the line

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

cut with a saw

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

a line that forms the length of an arrow pointer

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading Slowly he untied the string from his reddened wrist and pulled the arrow in.

exercising by repeatedly assuming a crouching position with the knees bent; strengthens the leg muscles

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

having or revealing little emotion or sensibility; not easily aroused or excited

From this reading The boy gave one sharp cry and lapsed into his stolid calm again.

a lightweight cord

From this reading Slowly he untied the string from his reddened wrist and pulled the arrow in.

the outer boundary of an artifact or a material layer constituting or resembling such a boundary

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

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

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

in or at that place or location

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

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

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading The little girl said nothing, for there is no balm for the tragedy of the big fish that gets away.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

plural of “twig” — a small branch or division of a branch (especially a terminal division); usually applied to branches of the current or preceding year

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

not tied

From this reading Slowly he untied the string from his reddened wrist and pulled the arrow in.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

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

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading She saw the bow bend, the shaft of the arrow drawing close to the boy's paling cheek, there was a rushing hiss through the air, a burning hiss in the water, a mighty bass leaped from the convulsed surface and shot to the depths again, leaving the headless arrow afloat.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

actively engaged in paid work

From this reading Slowly he turned and gazed indifferently at the four crisp fish on four dry twigs with four pieces of corn pone lying on the grass near them, and the little girl squatting meekly and waiting, as the woman should for her working lord.

a joint between the distal end of the radius and the proximal row of carpal bones

From this reading Slowly he untied the string from his reddened wrist and pulled the arrow in.