Chapter IV

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

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

how long something has existed

From this reading “Bang!” we would go into the New Age--that was the idea.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading What an occasion!

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

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

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

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

strike violently

From this reading “Bang!” we would go into the New Age--that was the idea.

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

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

plural of “belly” — the region of the body of a vertebrate between the thorax and the pelvis

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

cooked in hot water

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

plural of “citizen” — a native or naturalized member of a state or other political community

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

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

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

divisible by two

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

a violent release of energy caused by a chemical or nuclear reaction

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

a ceremony at which a dead person is buried or cremated

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

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

From this reading “Bang!” we would go into the New Age--that was the idea.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

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

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

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

From this reading “Bang!” we would go into the New Age--that was the idea.

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

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

moving to the inside of something

From this reading “Bang!” we would go into the New Age--that was the idea.

English writer of macabre short stories (1863-1943)

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

a particular point in time

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading “Bang!” we would go into the New Age--that was the idea.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

an event that occurs at a critical time

From this reading What an occasion!

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

in the near future

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

acting with or showing thought and good sense

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

a garment worn on the upper half of the body

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

past form of “sprawl” — sit or lie with one's limbs spread out

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

very great or intense

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

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

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

in or at that place or location

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

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

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

a special situation

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

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

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

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

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

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

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

the social event at which the ceremony of marriage is performed

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

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

From this reading They were dressed, these serious-minded citizens, as for a wedding or a funeral.

covered or soaked with a liquid such as water

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Even Penny Jacobs had put on what was called among us “a boiled shirt.”

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

From this reading Now we were, all of us, as we stood or lay under the trees--we were all one thing; and presently there would be a terrific explosion, far down in the earth, below our bellies as we lay sprawled in the wet grass--there would be this explosion, and then would we not all, at that moment, become something else?