Chapter VIII

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

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

conforming exactly or almost exactly to fact or to a standard or performing with total accuracy

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

point or cause to go (blows, weapons, or objects such as photographic equipment) towards

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

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

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

at or in or to any place

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

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

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

exhale hard

From this reading “Blow their heads off!”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

become fractured; break or crack on the surface only

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

plural of “creature” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

be afraid or feel anxious or apprehensive about a possible or probable situation or event

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

start firing a weapon

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

state of violent mental agitation

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

plural of “head” — the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading “Blow their heads off!”

a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

cause to move by striking

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

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

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

in a literal sense

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

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 horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

absolutely essential

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

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

From this reading “Blow their heads off!”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

situated in a particular spot or position

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

-ing form of “prance” — to walk with a lofty proud gait, often in an attempt to impress others

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

plural of “rattlesnake” — pit viper with horny segments at the end of the tail that rattle when shaken

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

plural of “rifle” — a shoulder firearm with a long barrel and a rifled bore

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

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

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

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

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

the act of firing a projectile

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

plural of “snake” — limbless scaly elongate reptile; some are venomous

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

carry out

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

plaything consisting of a child's toy bear (usually plush and stuffed with soft materials)

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

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

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading “Blow their heads off!”

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The ground near the rock seemed literally covered with the snakes, and a shot placed anywhere among them was nearly sure to hit one.

in or at that place or location

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

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

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

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

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

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

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

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

From this reading The horses were prancing about in a frenzy of fear, and it was almost impossible to take accurate aim, but there were so many of the hissing creatures that this was not necessary.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading THE FALL The woods echoed with the crack of the rifles as Roy and Teddy opened fire on the rattlesnakes.

uttering a loud inarticulate cry as of pain or excitement

From this reading Teddy was yelling.