Chapter XVII

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

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

later than; following

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

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

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

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

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

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

From this reading The sight of the blue-coats made the boys jump.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading The sight of the blue-coats made the boys jump.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

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

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

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

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

inflected form of “creep” — move slowly; in the case of people or animals with the body near the ground

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

traveling across

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

-ing form of “discuss” — to consider or examine in speech or writing

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

an opposing military force

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

the organ of sight

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

national; especially in reference to the government of the United States as distinct from that of its member units

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

set up or found

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

-ing form of “guard” — to keep watch over

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

deep ditch cut by running water (especially after a prolonged downpour)

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

cause to stop

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

diurnal bird of prey typically having short rounded wings and a long tail

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

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

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

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

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

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

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading The sight of the blue-coats made the boys jump.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The sight of the blue-coats made the boys jump.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

in a joyous manner

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

United States architect who was the presidentially appointed architect of Washington D.C. (1781-1855)

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

plural of “mouth” — the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

above and across; more than

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

a course of conduct

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

with low volume

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

experience anew

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

belonging to or characteristic of Romanticism or the Romantic Movement in the arts

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

free from danger or the risk of harm

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

plural of “sail” — a large piece of fabric (usually canvas fabric) by means of which wind is used to propel a sailing vessel

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading The sight of the blue-coats made the boys jump.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

plural of “soldier” — an enlisted man or woman who serves in an army

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

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

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

of a stern or strict bearing or demeanor; forbidding in aspect

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

come to a halt, stop moving

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

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

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

in or at that place or location

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

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

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

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

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

in the direction of

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

precisely as stated

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

close enough to be walked to

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

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

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

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

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

at the time that

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading After crossing the gully, and walking on through the woods for what they thought a safe distance, they turned into the path.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading They would have crept back, but it was too late--they caught the eye of the man nearest them.

an American who lives in the North (especially during the American Civil War)

From this reading They ceased talking as suddenly as birds in the trees stop chirruping when the hawk sails over; and when one Yankee called to them, in a stern tone, "Halt there!" and started to come toward them, their hearts were in their mouths.

plural of “yard” — a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading They were talking very merrily about the General and Hugh and their friend Mills, and were discussing some romantic plan for the recapture of their horses from the enemy, when they came out of the path into the road, and found themselves within twenty yards of a group of Federal soldiers, quietly sitting on their horses, evidently guarding the road.