Chapter IV · Chapter 4

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading In the school, though, there were no distinctions on this account.

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

From this reading They were of various degrees and fortunes.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

a collection of things sharing a common attribute

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

plural of “degree” — a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading They were of various degrees and fortunes.

plural of “distinction” — a discrimination between things as different and distinct on the basis of their characteristics or attributes

From this reading In the school, though, there were no distinctions on this account.

aimless wandering from place to place

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

fine powdery foodstuff obtained by grinding and sifting the meal of a cereal grain

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading They were of various degrees and fortunes.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

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

From this reading GRIM-VISAGED WAR.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

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

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

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

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

having or revealing supreme mastery or skill

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

the force of workers available

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

not any; not one

From this reading In the school, though, there were no distinctions on this account.

held or filled or in use

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading They were of various degrees and fortunes.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

plural of “pioneer” — someone who helps to open up a new line of research or technology or art

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

plural of “potato” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

an educational institution

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

performance of duties or provision of space and equipment helpful to others

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

comparative of “steady” — not subject to change or variation especially in behavior

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

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

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

in or at that place or location

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

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

From this reading They were of various degrees and fortunes.

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

From this reading In the school, though, there were no distinctions on this account.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading In the school, though, there were no distinctions on this account.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

not claimed or called for by an owner or assignee

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading They were of various degrees and fortunes.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading GRIM-VISAGED WAR.

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

From this reading It has been said that there were some twenty children in the school.

which person or people

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading There were the sons and daughters of the land-owners, the pioneers, and there were the sons and daughters of the men who worked for them, mostly the drifting class, who occupied log houses on unclaimed ground and got flour or meal or potatoes for their services with the steadier or more masterful.