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AFOOT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Currently in progress
Example:
preparations for the trial are underway
Synonyms:
afoot; underway
Classified under:
Similar:
current (occurring in or belonging to the present time)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Traveling by foot
Example:
she was afoot when I saw her this morning
Classified under:
Similar:
moving (in motion)
II. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
On foot; walking
Example:
quail are hunted either afoot or on horseback
Classified under:
Pertainym:
afoot (traveling by foot)
Context examples:
Is it not extraordinary that a burglar—and a burglar who had had some previous experience—should deliberately break into a house at a time when he could see from the lights that two of the family were still afoot?
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“As Em'ly's eyes—which was heavy—see this woman better,” Mr. Peggotty went on, “she know'd as she was one of them as she had often talked to on the beach. Fur, though she had run (as I have said) ever so fur in the night, she had oftentimes wandered long ways, partly afoot, partly in boats and carriages, and know'd all that country, 'long the coast, miles and miles. She hadn't no children of her own, this woman, being a young wife; but she was a-looking to have one afore long. And may my prayers go up to Heaven that “twill be a happiness to her, and a comfort, and a honour, all her life! May it love her and be dootiful to her, in her old age; helpful of her at the last; a Angel to her heer, and heerafter!”
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
But this is the letter which I am to take; and since the platter is clean it is time that we trussed up and were afoot.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
Blow and all, I was the first afoot again, for Hands had got involved with the dead body.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
He heard nothing, saw nothing, yet knew that the land was somehow different; that through it strange things were afoot and ranging; and he resolved to investigate after he had finished the business in hand.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
As impassive as ever to the casual observer, there were none the less a subdued eagerness and suggestion of tension in his brightened eyes and brisker manner which assured me that the game was afoot.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
When a man is afoot at cock-crow much may be done in the day.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
I am slow to take up such things, but once afoot I shall follow it while I have life or breath.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“You see, dear heart,” said he, “that they will not leave the old dog in his kennel when the game is afoot. And what of this White Company, archer?”
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
As the English adventurers, peeping out from behind their brushwood screen, looked down upon this wondrous sight they could see that the vast army in front of them was already afoot.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
