Chapter XI

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

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

(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 The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

a narrow street with walls on both sides

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

at or near or toward the center of a ship

From this reading The twelve stallions, ranged amidships, bickered like the men.

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

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

hostile or warlike attitude or nature

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

past form of “bicker” — argue over petty things

From this reading The twelve stallions, ranged amidships, bickered like the men.

a small vessel for travel on water

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

domesticated bovine animals as a group regardless of sex or age

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

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

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

-ing form of “dart” — move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

as a devil; in an evil manner

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

cause to move by pulling

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

divisible by two

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

for a limitless time

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

opinion or judgment

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

characteristic of or befitting a friend

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

having brief brilliant points or flashes of light

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

inflected form of “hang” — be suspended or hanging

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

set down according to a plan

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

in order that something should not happen

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The twelve stallions, ranged amidships, bickered like the men.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

the force of workers available

From this reading The twelve stallions, ranged amidships, bickered like the men.

and nothing more

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

superlative of “mild” — moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

plural of “neck” — the part of an organism (human or animal) that connects the head to the rest of the body

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

possessive form of “neighbour” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

past form of “range” — change or be different within limits

From this reading The twelve stallions, ranged amidships, bickered like the men.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

the display of a motion picture

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

utter in an angry, sharp, or abrupt tone

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

a person, without saying who

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

plural of “stallion” — uncastrated adult male horse

From this reading The twelve stallions, ranged amidships, bickered like the men.

plural of “steer” — an indication of potential opportunity

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

not in physical motion

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

occupy a large, elongated area

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

(of muscles) relieved of stiffness by stretching

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

not thin; of a specific thickness or of relatively great extent from one surface to the opposite usually in the smallest of the three solid dimensions

From this reading An air of belligerence still hung about the boat, thick as the smell of the cattle.

push forcefully

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading The twelve stallions, ranged amidships, bickered like the men.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

at the time that

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

a Caucasian

From this reading When one did so thrust out its head the ears were always laid back, the teeth showing, the eyes rolled white, glinting round to see what the neighbour was up to.

the least favorable outcome

From this reading The alleyway before them was narrow; they could stretch their necks all the way across it, and they were everlastingly doing so--not in the friendly way of the long-horned steers that stretched out merely to draw attention to themselves lest somebody might have food for them, but stretched out crankily, even at their mildest, and at their worst, devilishly.

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

From this reading Out would come that neighbour's head like a darting snake, and snap would go the teeth left and right.