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Chapter VIII
For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings. He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard. “Quiet!” ordered the colonel sternly. “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me. I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.”
Reading 1/28 · 5 reading units · Lines 1–5
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading “He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.”
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading “He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.””
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading “He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.”
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading “For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.”
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading “He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.”
above and across; more than
From this reading “He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading ““You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.”
Every word is available to listen to. Dictionary details are shown only when verified; these are not licensed Oxford entries.
used before a singular noun to mean one of a group, when it is not a particular one
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
the past participle of “be”
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.”
very enthusiastic or eager
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.”
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
a firm hold in a specific situation in this story
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.”
on condition that; in the event that
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.”
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading I’m the best friend you ever had, if you only knew it.”
used to join alternatives or possibilities
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Quiet!” ordered the colonel sternly.
above and across; more than
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Quiet!” ordered the colonel sternly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “Quiet!” ordered the colonel sternly.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading For a few moments McGlory struggled in the grasp of Colonel Billings.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
the past form of “be” used with I, he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading He was excited, and angry over the way Matt had been treated, and he would not have hesitated to do the colonel an injury if he could thereby have escaped from the room and followed his pard.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
the person or people being spoken to
From this reading “You don’t understand this thing, McGlory, or you wouldn’t be fighting to escape from me.
