Chapter XVI

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

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

anew

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

in the past

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

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

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

the residue that remains when something is burned

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

in addition to; as well as

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

hard close-grained wood of any of various birch trees; used especially in furniture and interior finishes and plywood

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

a youthful male person

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

the front of the trunk from the neck to the abdomen

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

breathe with great difficulty, as when experiencing a strong emotion

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

a quality of spirit that enables you to face danger or pain without showing fear

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "The blue jay, dad!" he cried.

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading "The blue jay, dad!" he cried.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

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

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

the property possessed by a slope that is very gradual

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

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

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

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

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

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

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

belonging to a man, boy, or male animal already mentioned

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

an annual school or university reunion for graduates

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

intense and profound fear

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

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

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

United States diplomat and jurist who negotiated peace treaties with Britain and served as the first chief justice of the United States Supreme Court (1745-1829)

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

obsolete terms for legal insanity

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

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

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

water soaked soil; soft wet earth

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

completely unclothed

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

not any; not one

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

disciple of Jesus and leader of the Apostles; regarded by Catholics as the vicar of Christ on earth and first Pope

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

having a point

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

plural of “rag” — a small piece of cloth or paper

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

cut with a saw

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

so extremely intense as to evoke screams

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

convulsive gasp made while weeping

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

past form of “stamp” — walk heavily

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

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

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

push forcefully

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

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

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

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

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

up to a particular time

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

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

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

at the time that

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading Then he saw the change--the naked breast, the half-bared arms, the mud and the rags, and the face and hair in which years had stamped their heels unpityingly.

a Caucasian

From this reading He tried to choke back his horror, to keep it out of his face, and to do this he laughed--laughed through the tears and sobbing breath--and pointed to a white birch tree in which a blue jay was screaming.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Not until Donald McRae held his boy off, with a hand on each shoulder, did something besides the madness of joy at his father's homecoming begin to thrust itself upon Peter.

possessive form of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

a late time of life

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.

the day immediately before today

From this reading Under the ash tree, for a few moments Peter was the boy again; the boy of yesterday, of years ago, when the world had held nothing for him but his father; and there was no change in the touch of the hands that had always given him comfort and courage and a love that was almost like a woman's in its gentleness.