Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

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

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

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

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

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

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

past form of “banish” — expel from a community or group

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

endless loop of flexible material between two rotating shafts or pulleys

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

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

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

Australian physician and bacteriologist who described the bacterium that causes undulant fever or brucellosis (1855-1931)

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

recurring regularly or frequently in a prolonged and closely spaced series

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

Greek missionary; the invention of the Cyrillic alphabet is attributed to him (826-869)

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

a competitor thought likely to win

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

inflected form of “fling” — throw with force or recklessness

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

assemble or get together

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

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

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

a preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

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

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

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

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

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

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

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

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

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

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

the act of departing

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

plural of “meal” — the food served and eaten at one time

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

a form of address for a man

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

a city in northeastern France in Lorraine

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

necessary for relief or supply

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

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

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

and nothing more

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

above and across; more than

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

the act of passing from one state or place to the next

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

an educational institution

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

relative darkness caused by light rays being intercepted by an opaque body

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

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

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

in the near future

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

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 When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

a detailed critical inspection

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

to a sufficient degree

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

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

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

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

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

the upper part of anything

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

an open receptacle for holding or displaying or serving articles or food

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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 She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

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

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

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

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.

at the time that

From this reading When Mr. Bruce was busy over a story, or an article, or a book, every one in the house knew.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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

From this reading THE FIGHT Betty was in the belt of bush that lay between the wicket-gate of her home and the road.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

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

From this reading Then the study door would be closed and the window only opened at the top; then the children would be banished from the side garden into which the study looked, and from the passage outside the study door; then Mrs. Bruce would carry his meals to him upon a tray, and he would have strong black coffee in the early evening.

produce a literary work

From this reading She had come home as soon as school was out, come home leaving Cyril and Nancy behind her, flung herself beneath the shade of one of her favourite old gum trees, and begun to write.

but in spite of that

From this reading Her idea was to be sufficiently near to home to gather from the sound of the voices that might call her if she were _really_ needed and yet to be so far from sight that the continual "Betty, come here," and "Betty, go there," could not be.