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 Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

quickly and without warning

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

gotten through environmental forces

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading "I have an idea," he announced.

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

declared publicly; made widely known

From this reading "I have an idea," he announced.

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

From this reading "Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading "Can't Uncle John have an idea if he wants to?"

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

inflected form of “cry” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading "Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy.

travel across or pass over

From this reading "Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy.

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading "Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy.

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

-ing form of “doze” — sleep lightly or for a short period of time

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

plural of “dream” — a series of mental images and emotions occurring during sleep

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

inflected form of “drum” — make a rhythmic sound

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

start firing a weapon

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "I have an idea," he announced.

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

From this reading "I have an idea," he announced.

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading "Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy.

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

From this reading "I have an idea," he announced.

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

From this reading "I have an idea," he announced.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "Can't Uncle John have an idea if he wants to?"

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

in an aggressive manner

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

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

From this reading "Can't Uncle John have an idea if he wants to?"

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

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

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

plural of “want” — a state of extreme poverty

From this reading "Can't Uncle John have an idea if he wants to?"

during the time that

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

which person or people

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading "Why, Daddy, how cross you are!" cried Patsy.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Two hours later Uncle John, who had been dozing in his big chair by the fire while Patsy drummed on the piano, sat up abruptly and looked around him with a suddenly acquired air of decision.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Did you find it in your dreams, then?" asked the Major, sharply.