Chapter XIV

past form of “act” — perform an action, or work out or perform (an action)

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

(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 They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

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

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance

From this reading In reality there was little of real anger back of Tom’s blow.

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

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

plural of “attitude” — a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading But it had been effective, that was evident.

exhale hard

From this reading In reality there was little of real anger back of Tom’s blow.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it had been effective, that was evident.

plural of “cause” — events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

a closed carriage with four wheels and seats for four passengers

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

producing or capable of producing an intended result or having a striking effect

From this reading But it had been effective, that was evident.

divisible by two

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

From this reading But it had been effective, that was evident.

a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

noisy quarrel

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

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

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

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

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

cause to move by striking

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

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

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

inborn pattern of behavior often responsive to specific stimuli

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

as a matter of instinct

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

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

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

a boy or man

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

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

From this reading In reality there was little of real anger back of Tom’s blow.

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

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

a particular point in time

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

not any; not one

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

on one occasion

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading In reality there was little of real anger back of Tom’s blow.

all of your experiences that determine how things appear to you

From this reading In reality there was little of real anger back of Tom’s blow.

inflected form of “refer” — make reference to

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

past form of “remain” — stay the same; remain in a certain state

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

express in words

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

lacking natural ease

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

sensational in appearance or thrilling in effect

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

the astonishment you feel when something totally unexpected happens to you

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

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

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

in or at that place or location

From this reading In reality there was little of real anger back of Tom’s blow.

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

From this reading They all remained, in strained attitudes of surprise, looking at Clarence.

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

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

male cat

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.

possessive form of “tom” — male cat

From this reading In reality there was little of real anger back of Tom’s blow.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Tom had acted instinctively in striking out, the instinct that causes every lad to want to hit back, once he is hit.

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

From this reading In reality there was little of real anger back of Tom’s blow.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading AN EXPLOSION So suddenly had the “fracas,” as the boys referred to it afterward, taken place, that for the moment no one, not even Tom, knew what to do or say.