Chapter V

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

something done (usually as opposed to something said)

From this reading Almost in an instant a plan of action was drawn up.

engaged in or accustomed to close observation

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

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

From this reading Almost in an instant a plan of action was drawn up.

using the voice; not silently

From this reading “Something must be done,” he said, aloud.

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

From this reading Almost in an instant a plan of action was drawn up.

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

the month following July and preceding September

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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

From this reading “Something must be done,” he said, aloud.

a United States youth subculture of the 1950s; rejected possessions or regular work or traditional dress; for communal living and psychedelic drugs and anarchism; favored modern forms of jazz (e.g., bebop)

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

that part of the central nervous system that includes all the higher nervous centers; enclosed within the skull; continuous with the spinal cord

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

chew (food); to bite and grind with the teeth

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

the act of closing something

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading “Something must be done,” he said, aloud.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

showing the wearing effects of overwork or care or suffering

From this reading Almost in an instant a plan of action was drawn up.

of a conditioned response; caused to die out because of the absence or withdrawal of reinforcement

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

made afraid

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

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

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

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

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

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

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

the foot of an ungulate mammal

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading Almost in an instant a plan of action was drawn up.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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 But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

being or made softer or less loud or clear

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Something must be done,” he said, aloud.

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

as might be expected

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

widely known and esteemed

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

on one occasion

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading Almost in an instant a plan of action was drawn up.

relatively large rodents with sharp erectile bristles mingled with the fur

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

(law) the institution of a sequence of steps by which legal judgments are invoked

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

make a low noise

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Something must be done,” he said, aloud.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

in an aggressive manner

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

Complete absence of sound; a state of quietness and stillness.

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “Something must be done,” he said, aloud.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

express a supposition

From this reading “And so it seems to have been left for me to do, I suppose I must do it.”

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

a psychological state induced by (or as if induced by) a magical incantation

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

a cold pudding made of layers of sponge cake spread with fruit or jelly; may be decorated with nuts, cream, or chocolate

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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

From this reading Almost in an instant a plan of action was drawn up.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading HOW NAT BREWSTER MET THE PORCUPINE Bewildered, and a trifle frightened by the nature of the proceedings, Nat Brewster stood by the low wall and listened to the hoof beats as they died away in a muffled rumble.

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

From this reading Almost in an instant a plan of action was drawn up.

at the time that

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading But when the silence of the August night closed in upon him--when he noted the many lights of Chew House being extinguished one by one, and heard the doors and windows closing sharply, he suddenly came out of his trance, and his naturally alert brain began to work once more.