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Chapter IV
'What is the use of this talk? Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom. Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background. These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears. But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Oxford-style entry order: headword, part of speech, US IPA, concise definition, contextual example, audio, and collocations from this reading.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading “But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.”
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading “Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.”
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading “Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.”
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading “These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.”
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading “But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.”
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 Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
used to join words or parts of a sentence that go together
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
the form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
in or near a particular place or position
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
earlier than; in front of
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
to be able to, or to be allowed to
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
intended to be given to, or used by, somebody
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
showing where something starts, or who sent it
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned, as the subject
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
inside something, or within a place, period, or state
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
moving to the inside of something
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
the form of “be” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
touching and supported by a surface
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
the one or ones belonging to us
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
an important story-specific word used in this passage
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used to introduce the second part of a comparison
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
used before a noun that is already known, already mentioned, or the only one of its kind
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
used before the base form of a verb to make the infinitive
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading Ours are the villages on the heights,' said a voice in the background.
the speaker together with one or more other people
From this reading Take up the child and the girl, and we can at least ask for the ransom.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used to ask for information about something
From this reading 'What is the use of this talk?
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
Dictionary entry pending editorial verification. Tap Listen to hear the word.
From this reading These _were_ the Bad Men--worse than Goblins--and it needed all Wee Willie Winkie's training to prevent him from bursting into tears.
used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past
From this reading But he felt that to cry before a native, excepting only his mother's _ayah_, would be an infamy greater than any mutiny.
