Chapter VII

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

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

liveliness and eagerness

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

(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 It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

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

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

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

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

the feeling that accompanies something extremely surprising

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

the two together, not just one

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

terminate

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

lacking funds

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

(usually plural) everything that is included in a collection and that is held or included in something

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

delicately beautiful

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

animal reproductive body consisting of an ovum or embryo together with nutritive and protective envelopes; especially the thin-shelled reproductive body laid by e.g. female birds

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

oval reproductive body of a fowl (especially a hen) used as food

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading She failed.

a powerful effect or influence

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

inflected form of “grab” — take hold of so as to seize or restrain or stop the motion of

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

plural of “hen” — adult female chicken

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

the act of retaining something

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

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

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

and nothing more

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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 She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

plural of “look” — the feelings expressed on a person's face

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

plural of “shell” — ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

(photography) the act of assuming a certain position (as for a photograph or portrait)

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

past form of “smear” — stain by smearing or daubing with a dirty substance

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

soiled or likely to soil with dirt or grime

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

happening without warning or in a short space of time

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

the kind and number and arrangement of teeth (collectively) in a person or animal

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

in or at that place or location

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

a special situation

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

a diluting agent

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

an act that exploits or victimizes someone (treats them unfairly)

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

a porch along the outside of a building (sometimes partly enclosed)

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

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

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

at the time that

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

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

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.

which person or people

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading My wife had an egg in her hand one day on the veranda when she was talking to Charlie, who was sitting on the veranda rail.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With sudden alacrity, Charlie grabbed the egg, and, holding it with both hands, tried to break the shell with her teeth.

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading It is likely all the eggs she had received from her mother in the woods had thinner shells than those of hens, and so she did not think of using much force.

fabric comprising a fitted part at the top of a garment

From this reading She turned the big egg round and round in her hands with looks of astonishment; and then, in a business-like way, as if she knew there was just one thing to be done, she broke it on the veranda railing on which she was sitting, and guzzled the contents with such gusto that she smeared her face and soiled her dainty fur with the yoke.