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 Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

in the past

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

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

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

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

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

a mountain or tall hill

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

being moved or acted upon by moving air or vapor

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

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

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

plural of “climb” — an upward slope or grade (as in a road)

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

a small open container usually used for drinking; usually has a handle

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

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

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

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

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

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

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

a small number or amount

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

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

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

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

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

plural of “hundred” — ten 10s

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

sit on one's heels

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

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

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

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

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

in utter disorder

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

evidencing the possession of inside information

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

(superlative of “near” or “close”) within the shortest distance

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

past form of “overflow” — flow or run over (a limit or brim)

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

above your head; in the sky

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

plural of “rafter” — one of several parallel sloping beams that support a roof

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

make a loud noise, as of wind, water, or vehicles

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

move hurridly

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

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

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

(used with count nouns) of an indefinite number more than 2 or 3 but not many

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

(of something seen or heard) clearly defined

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

the display of a motion picture

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

plural of “skeleton” — something reduced to its minimal form

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

make square

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

be standing; be upright

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

having a sharp inclination

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

not in physical motion

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

successive (without a break)

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

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

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

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

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

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

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

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

From this reading THRUMS.

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

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

the upper part of anything

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

up to a particular time

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

plural of “weaver” — a craftsman who weaves cloth

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

in or at the place that

From this reading In those days the cup overflowed and left several houses on the top of the hill, where their cold skeletons still stand.

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

From this reading Thrums is the name I give here to the handful of houses jumbled together in a cup, which is the town nearest the school-house.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The road that climbs from the square, which is Thrums' heart, to the north is so steep and straight, that in a sharp frost children hunker at the top and are blown down with a roar and a rush on rails of ice.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.

a late time of life

From this reading Until twenty years ago its every other room, earthen-floored and showing the rafters overhead, had a hand-loom, and hundreds of weavers lived and died Thoreaus “ben the hoose” without knowing it.