Chapter I

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

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

From this reading Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

possessive form of “animal” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BULL-DOG DRUMMOND," "THE BLACK GANG," ETC.

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

From this reading Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BULL-DOG DRUMMOND," "THE BLACK GANG," ETC.

(of skin) having a tan color from exposure to the sun

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BULL-DOG DRUMMOND," "THE BLACK GANG," ETC.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

wearing or provided with clothing; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

in accordance with convention or custom

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BULL-DOG DRUMMOND," "THE BLACK GANG," ETC.

a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

possessive form of “e” — a fat-soluble vitamin that is essential for normal reproduction; an important antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals in the body

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BULL-DOG DRUMMOND," "THE BLACK GANG," ETC.

inflected form of “excel” — distinguish oneself

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

a lining applied to the edge of a garment for ornamentation or strengthening

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

an association of criminals

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BULL-DOG DRUMMOND," "THE BLACK GANG," ETC.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

a man of refinement

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

educate for a future role or function

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

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

From this reading Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

possessive form of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

in an idle manner

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

incapable of being avoided or prevented

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

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

From this reading Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

the capital and largest city of England; located on the Thames in southeastern England; financial and industrial and cultural center

From this reading Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

attach to a support

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

(Old Testament) a famous hunter

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BULL-DOG DRUMMOND," "THE BLACK GANG," ETC.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

a light shade of red

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

the property of being smooth and shiny

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

in the recent past

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

put a saddle on

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

refrain from harming

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

someone who engages in sports

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

completely neat and clean

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

plant fiber used e.g. for making baskets and hats or as fodder

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading _*I — The Man in Ratcatcher*_ "’E ain’t much ter look at, Major, but ’e’s a ’andy little ’orse."

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

From this reading AUTHOR OF "BULL-DOG DRUMMOND," "THE BLACK GANG," ETC.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

United States telephone engineer who assisted Alexander Graham Bell in his experiments (1854-1934)

From this reading Hazell, Watson & Viney, Ld., London and Aylesbury.

tanned and coarsened from being outdoors

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

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

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

which person or people

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.

past form of “wonder” — have a wish or desire to know something

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

unfulfilled or frustrated in realizing an ambition

From this reading Idly the groom wondered if the would-be sportsman knew which side of a horse it was customary to get into the saddle from; in fact one Nimrod recently—a gentleman clothed in spotless pink—had so far excelled himself as to come to rest facing his horse’s tail.

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading A groom, chewing the inevitable straw, gave a final polish to the saddle, and then stood at the animal’s head, waiting for the tall, spare man with the bronzed, weather-beaten face, who was slowly drawing on his gloves in the yard, to mount.