Chapter II

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

anew

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

(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 FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

Having no one else present.

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

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

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

a person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

plural of “archer” — a person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

plural of “arrow” — a mark to indicate a direction or relation

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

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

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

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

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

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

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

any of the larger branches of a tree

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

plural of “bow” — a knot with two loops and loose ends; used to tie shoelaces

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

a natural or artificial enclosed space

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

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

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

the yard associated with a church

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

unvarying in nature

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

an interest followed with exaggerated zeal

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

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

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

the feeling that accompanies an unsatisfied state

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

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

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

the act of discovering something

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

divisible by two

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

planned and made or fashioned artistically

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

a formation of aircraft in flight

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

to a high degree or extent; favorably or with much respect

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

an aggressive and violent young criminal

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

urged or forced to action through moral pressure

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

cause to die; put to death, usually intentionally or knowingly

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

an event that causes someone to die

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

having or bringing misfortune

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

plural of “month” — one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

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

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

an effortful attempt to attain a goal

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

United States writer whose novels explored human alienation (1916-1990)

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

quietly and steadily persevering especially in detail or exactness

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

an area where many people go for recreation

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

a fundamental feeling that is hard to define but that people desire to experience

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

a customary way of operation or behavior

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

past form of “procure” — get by special effort

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

past form of “purloin” — make off with belongings of others

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

any of various burrowing animals of the family Leporidae having long ears and short tails; some domesticated and raised for pets or food

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

plural of “rascal” — a deceitful and unreliable scoundrel

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

a rational motive for a belief or action

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

characterized by socially or conventionally acceptable morals

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

a bag made of paper or plastic for holding customer's purchases

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

an educational institution

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

ready for service or able to give long service

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

plural of “shot” — the act of firing a projectile

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

kill intentionally and with premeditation

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

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

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

having great beauty and splendor

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

successive (without a break)

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

of high or superior quality or performance

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

(of undissolved particles in a fluid) supported or kept from sinking or falling by buoyancy and without apparent attachment

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

in or at that place or location

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

a special situation

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

in a thoughtless manner

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

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

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

inflected form of “undertake” — enter upon an activity or enterprise

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

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

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

precisely as stated

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

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

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

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

From this reading For one thing, my chum’s persevering nature impelled him, having undertaken to be an archer, to be one; another reason was that our bows were very superior to those of the other boys.

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

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading With the others the craze, as such crazes will, had died out again in a short time; we two alone kept it up.

a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)

From this reading By constant practice we became highly respectable shots, and many a luckless small bird did we thoughtlessly slay for the mere pleasure of killing; we even became so expert as now and then to kill a rabbit “on the wing,” as Percy put it.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE FLIGHT Some six months previous to our discovery of the secret chamber, it happened that all the boys in our class at school had been taken with a desire to become archers,--the result of reading the story of Robin Hood,--and Percy and I, among the rest, had procured bows and arrows, and had spent many hours practising at a sack full of straw suspended from a bough in the playground.

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

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading In the churchyard there grew a splendid old yew-tree, the pride of the village, and we, young rascals that we were, had purloined from it two straight branches, which, with great pains, we had fashioned into very serviceable bows.