Chapter XX

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

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

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

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

marked by extreme anger

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

at the same time that; because; in the way that

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Croaker, come down here, I want'a ask you somethin'."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "Croaker," commanded his master, "get away from there!"

being in a state of proper equilibrium

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

a short stout club used primarily by policemen

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

(ethnic slur) offensive term for a person of Chinese descent

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

-ing form of “cling” — come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading "Croaker, come down here, I want'a ask you somethin'."

past form of “command” — be in command of

From this reading "Croaker," commanded his master, "get away from there!"

the lean flesh of a saltwater fish caught along Atlantic coast of southern U.S.

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

in a demure manner

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading "Croaker, come down here, I want'a ask you somethin'."

the organ of sight

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

inflected form of “flop” — fall loosely

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

set up or found

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "Croaker," commanded his master, "get away from there!"

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "Croaker," commanded his master, "get away from there!"

a mental representation of some haunting experience

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

like the sounds of frogs and crows

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

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

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "Croaker, come down here, I want'a ask you somethin'."

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

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

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

From this reading "Croaker," commanded his master, "get away from there!"

plural of “hiss” — a fricative sound (especially as an expression of disapproval)

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

past form of “hurl” — throw forcefully

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

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

From this reading "Croaker, come down here, I want'a ask you somethin'."

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

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

plural of “insult” — a rude expression intended to offend or hurt

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

and nothing more

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

fasten with a latch

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

past form of “laugh” — produce laughter

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading "Croaker," commanded his master, "get away from there!"

plural of “meet” — a meeting at which a number of athletic contests are held

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

a collection of live animals for study or display

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

plural of “owl” — nocturnal bird of prey with hawk-like beak and claws and large head with front-facing eyes

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

the most extreme possible amount or value

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

-ing form of “peer” — look searchingly

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

past form of “reach” — reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

small crude shelter used as a dwelling

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

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

From this reading "Croaker, come down here, I want'a ask you somethin'."

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

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading "Croaker," commanded his master, "get away from there!"

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

The passage at the back of the mouth.

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

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

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

the act of changing or reversing the direction of the course

From this reading He hopped from his perch to the peak of the shanty as Billy reached for him and there he sat, demurely turning his head from one side to the other and muttering low in his throat.

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

From this reading "Croaker, come down here, I want'a ask you somethin'."

in or at the place that

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

during the time that

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

a movable organ for flying (one of a pair)

From this reading Croaker balanced himself by flopping one short wing and laughed at the hisses of the angered owls.

in the company of; together with

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading BILLY MEETS A LOVELY GHOST Billy found Croaker just where he thought he would be--clinging to the latch of the menagerie door and peering with one black eye through the chink above it at the owls, the while he hurled guttural insults at them.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Croaker, come down here, I want'a ask you somethin'."