Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

later than; following

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

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

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

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

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

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

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

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

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

a long seat for more than one person

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

form a curve

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

a projectile that is fired from a gun

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

placed in a grave

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

the housing or outer covering of something

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

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

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

deceive by a mock action

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

having lost your job

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

to or at a greater extent or degree or a more advanced stage (“further” is used more often than “farther” in this abstract sense)

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

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

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

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

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

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

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

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

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

plural of “inch” — a unit of length equal to one twelfth of a foot

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

immediately past

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

putting a person to death by mob action without due process of law

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

being nothing more than specified

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

a particular point in time

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

not one and not the other of two

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

without a sound

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

and not; used after a negative to add a second negative

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

a person who is confined; especially a prisoner of war

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

become less tense, rest, or take one's ease

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

a pistol with a revolving cylinder (usually having six chambers for bullets)

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

cut with a saw

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

get by special effort

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

the principal law-enforcement officer in a county

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

having a supporting base

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

in a stealthy manner

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

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

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

in or at that place or location

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

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

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

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

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

up to a particular time

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

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

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

the process of paying close and continuous attention

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

at the time that

From this reading He did not relax his watchfulness when the last one was out of sight.

in or at the place that

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

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

From this reading So closely, indeed, was his attention drawn to the outside, that he neither saw nor heard the prisoner creep stealthily across the floor, reach out his hand and secure the revolver which lay on the bench behind the sheriff, and creep as noiselessly back to his place in the corner of the room.

past form of “whistle” — make whistling sounds

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading The sheriff stood at the window until they had disappeared around the bend in the road.

a retraction of a previously held position

From this reading Their withdrawal might be a mere feint, to be followed by a further attempt.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading A moment after the last of the lynching party had disappeared there was a shot fired from the woods across the road; a bullet whistled by the window and buried itself in the wooden casing a few inches from where the sheriff was standing.