Chapter VIII

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

inflected form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

delighting the senses or exciting intellectual or emotional admiration

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

for the reason that

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

plural of “cabin” — small room on a ship or boat where people sleep

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

prepare a hot meal

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

form a curl, curve, or kink

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

unmistakably (“plain” is often used informally for “plainly”)

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

-ing form of “expect” — regard something as probable or likely

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

a social unit living together

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

any of various fine-grained silty soils that become waxy and very sticky mud when saturated with water

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

a condition of urgency making it necessary to hurry

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

plural of “interest” — a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

become part of; become a member of a group or organization

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

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

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

a unit of length equal to 1,760 yards or 5,280 feet; exactly 1609.344 meters

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

not any; not one

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

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

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

win approval or support for

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

suggesting or suitable for a picture; pretty as a picture

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

a separate part of a whole

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

one of four equal parts

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

housing available for people to live in

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

cut with a saw

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

voluntarily assumed or endured

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

past form of “skirt” — avoid or try to avoid fulfilling, answering, or performing (duties, questions, or issues)

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading Each cabin had a good piece of ground around it and from every chimney there arose a curl of blue smoke.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

in or at that place or location

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading The road lay through a beautiful oak forest and then skirted a corn field.

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

precisely as stated

From this reading The cabins were at least a quarter of a mile from the great house, and very comfortable and picturesque they were.

go to see a place, as for entertainment

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

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

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

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

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.

at the time that

From this reading They were evidently expecting a visit from the family, because there were several little pickaninnies waiting at a turn in the road, and when they saw us they set off in a great hurry shouting:

during the time that

From this reading THE CIRCUS THE gumbo being made and nothing to do but cook it, and that quite slowly, I was able to run from my self-imposed duties for a while and join the crowd that had formed to go to the negro quarters and persuade them that they were not sick, that there was no ghost, and that their duty and interests lay at Maxton.