Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

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

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

(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 The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

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

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

outward or visible aspect of a person or thing

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

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

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

plural of “band” — an unofficial association of people or groups

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

plural of “carpet” — floor covering consisting of a piece of thick heavy fabric (usually with nap or pile)

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

plural of “chair” — a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

cause to change; make different; cause a transformation

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

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 The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

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

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

furnished or concealed with curtains or draperies

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

past form of “echo” — to say again or imitate

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

closed in or surrounded or included within

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

descend in free fall under the influence of gravity

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

enclose with a fence

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

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

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

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

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

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

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

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

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

take greedily; take more than one's share

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

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

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

characteristic of or suffering from kyphosis, an abnormality of the vertebral column

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

in a softened tone

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

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

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

situated within or suitable for inside a building

From this reading And the interior was transformed.

a heavy ductile magnetic metallic element; is silver-white in pure form but readily rusts; used in construction and tools and armament; plays a role in the transport of oxygen by the blood

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

past form of “lean” — to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

enter into a log, as on ships and planes

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

past form of “moan” — indicate pain, discomfort, or displeasure

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

clean or organized

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

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

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

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

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

past form of “paper” — cover with paper

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

plural of “picture” — a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

exactly

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

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

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

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

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

past form of “shove” — come into rough contact with while moving

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

yielding readily to pressure or weight

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

distribute or disperse widely

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

an orderly pile

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

carry out

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

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

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

a dense growth of bushes

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

in every part of a place, or for the whole of a period

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

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

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

given a completely different form or appearance

From this reading And the interior was transformed.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

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

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

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

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

at the time that

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

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

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The fire-light fell upon pictures, and a cat had come to take her place at the corner of the hearth; but in the dead of night, when all the birds were hushed, when the wind moaned in the plum thicket, the hollow and distressing cough echoed throughout the house.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading Soft carpets were spread, easy chairs provided, the rough walls were papered and the windows were curtained.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

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

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.

shaped to fit by or as if by altering the contours of a pliable mass (as by work or effort)

From this reading Within a few days a great change was wrought in the appearance of the old log house.

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading The roof, which had been humped in the middle like the back of a lean, acorn-hunting hog, was straightened and reshingled; the yard was enclosed with a neat fence; and the stack chimney which had leaned off from the house as if it would fall, was shoved back and held in place with strong iron bands.