Chapter XII · A Free Life

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

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

to or in a foreign country

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

later than; following

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

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

From this reading “Well, I happened in just arter noon.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

plural of “border” — a line that indicates a boundary

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Your nice stepfather sot by the fireplace a smokin’.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

a tract of land with few or no trees in the middle of a wooded area

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

an institution created to conduct business

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

clearly characterized or delimited

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

in a dim indistinct manner

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

the time of day immediately following sunset

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading Your nice stepfather sot by the fireplace a smokin’.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

past form of “happen” — come to pass

From this reading “Well, I happened in just arter noon.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

any of several breeds of dog used for hunting typically having large drooping ears

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading “Well, I happened in just arter noon.

restless or short-tempered under delay or opposition

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

possessive form of “job” — the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

and nothing more

From this reading “Well, I happened in just arter noon.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

information about recent and important events

From this reading “Well, what news?”

immediately following in time or order

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading Your nice stepfather sot by the fireplace a smokin’.

the middle of the day

From this reading “Well, I happened in just arter noon.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

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

From this reading Your nice stepfather sot by the fireplace a smokin’.

a chronic drinker

From this reading Your nice stepfather sot by the fireplace a smokin’.

the husband of your mother by a subsequent marriage

From this reading Your nice stepfather sot by the fireplace a smokin’.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

a journey for some purpose (usually including the return)

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Nathan asked, after a little impatient waiting for Job’s account of his trip abroad.

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading “Well, what news?”

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

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “Well, what news?”

at the time that

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The borders of the clearing were dimly defined in the dusk of the next evening, and Nathan was beginning to feel lonely, though he had the hound for company, when Job came in with his gun on his shoulder.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Your nice stepfather sot by the fireplace a smokin’.