Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

later than; following

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

(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 There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

an amount allowed or granted (as during a given period)

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

in addition

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

a Hebrew shepherd and minor prophet

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

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

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

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

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

annoy continually or chronically

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

something that interests you because it is important or affects you

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

a female human offspring

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

plural of “deal” — a particular instance of buying or selling

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

poor enough to need help from others

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

a social unit living together

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

not capable of occurring or being accomplished or dealt with

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

arousing or holding the attention

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

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

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

plural of “issue” — an important question that is in dispute and must be settled

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

bestow a quality on

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

an unmarried girl (especially a virgin)

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

plural of “make” — a recognizable kind

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

third-person singular of “manage” — be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

joined in matrimony

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

the force of workers available

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

an idle worthless person

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

a multivalent nonmetallic element of the nitrogen family that occurs commonly in inorganic phosphate rocks and as organic phosphates in all living cells; is highly reactive and occurs in several allotropic forms

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

past form of “provide” — give something useful or necessary to

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

on the contrary

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

inflected form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

plural of “son” — a male human offspring

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

the act of spending or disbursing money

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

the quality or attribute of being firm and steadfast

From this reading Stability in the family is provided by an old maiden aunt, Kate, the sister of the old man.

not in physical motion

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

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

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

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

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

of many different kinds purposefully arranged but lacking any uniformity

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

precisely as stated

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

(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 By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

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

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

during the time that

From this reading The old father makes his two sons an allowance, which one of them, Amos, manages well, while the other does not.

which person or people

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.

author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

possessive form of “wilson” — author of the first novel by an African American that was published in the United States (1808-1870)

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It deals with the various moral issues that beset a rather well-off family.

set down in writing in any of various ways

From this reading By Reverend T.P. Wilson ________________________________________________________________________ This a very well written and interesting story, well up to Wilson's best.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading There was also a daughter, Julia, who had married a ne'er-do-well, and who had been shown the door on that account by the old father, but who was still of great concern to the two young men, particularly to Amos, as she had small children, who were so destitute that Amos was spending all his allowance in looking after his sister and her children, thus making it impossible for him to lend his brother any money.