Chapter XI · The First Adventure

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

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

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

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

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

the action or reaction of something (as a machine or substance) under specified circumstances

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

made known or openly avowed

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

unlike in nature or quality or form or degree

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

turn up, loosen, or remove earth

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

five-toed pachyderm

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

divisible by two

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

a boy or man

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

past form of “flirt” — talk or behave amorously, without serious intentions

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

the native habitat or home of an animal or plant

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

plural of “haven” — a shelter serving as a place of safety or sanctuary

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

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

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

poisonous drug derived from an Eurasian plant of the genus Conium

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading “Knock the head off it, hey?” repeated Chet.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

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

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Knock the head off it, hey?” repeated Chet.

deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

assembled for use; especially by being attached to a support

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

and nothing more

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

inflected form of “refer” — make reference to

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

recurring again and again

From this reading “Knock the head off it, hey?” repeated Chet.

steal goods; take as spoils

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

past form of “shift” — make a shift in or exchange of

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

plural of “sign” — a perceptible indication of something not immediately apparent (as a visible clue that something has happened)

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

plural of “squirrel” — a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

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 “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.

a special situation

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading This thing is a reg’lar elephant gun, Chet,” and he shifted the heavy rifle to his other shoulder.

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

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

a track or mark left by something that has passed

From this reading “I could knock the head off that fellow,” Dig declared, referring to a big grey squirrel that flirted his tail and chattered in a tall hemlock not far off the trail, “if I only had my little rifle.

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

From this reading Even the behaviour of the birds and the squirrels was different from their conduct nearer town.

United States writer and dramatist (1897-1975)

From this reading As Chet Havens and Digby Fordham mounted into the hills, the country about them became wilder and quite free from signs of man’s habitation.