Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

past form of “appear” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

disorder resulting from a failure to behave predictably

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

a cheap disreputable nightclub or dance hall

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

as if struck dumb with astonishment and surprise

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

marked by extreme anger

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

a boy or man

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

past form of “float” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

an ornamental facade

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

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

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

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

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

owning or consisting of land or real estate

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

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

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

no longer in your possession or control; unable to be found or recovered

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

the one or ones belonging to the person speaking

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

abnormally large

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

an insignificant place

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

above and across; more than

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

spoil as if by poison

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

large Old World boas

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

causing or able to cause nausea

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

and nothing more

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

cause (a liquid) to spatter about, especially with force

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

a hunt for game carried on by following it stealthily or waiting in ambush

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

successive (without a break)

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

marked with or as if with stripes or linear discolorations

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

a submersible warship usually armed with torpedoes

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

a cat with a grey or tawny coat mottled with black

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

-ing form of “thirst” — feel the need to drink

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

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

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

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

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

the upper part of anything

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

a formal word for “on”

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

spatially or metaphorically from a lower to a higher position

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

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

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading "Jaws, monstrous and wet, grabbing at him in enraged confusion" .

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "A 'silver tabby' floated among the twigs, looking for him" "Turning over and over, in one long, sickening dive back to earth" "That little black-headed fellow doing the stalking act upon that python was great" "Shooting straight upwards on the top of what appeared to have been a submarine mine in a mild form"

which person or people

From this reading _Frontispiece_ "The owl had lost a foot on the turn "A shrew-mouse, thirsting for blood, but who got poison instead" "This one had simply streaked out of the night from nowhere" "Landed full upon the dumbfounded water-vole--splash!"