Chapter I

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

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

with admiration

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

(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 “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

a native or inhabitant of the United States

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

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

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

(comparative of “good”) superior to another (of the same class or set or kind) in excellence or quality or desirability or suitability; more highly skilled than another

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

any skeletal muscle having two origins (but especially the muscle that flexes the forearm)

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

rigid connective tissue that makes up the skeleton of vertebrates

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

a youthful male person

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

plural of “dodger” — a shifty deceptive person

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

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

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

one or the other of two

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

divisible by two

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

plural of “fan” — a device for creating a current of air by movement of a surface or surfaces

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

plural of “feel” — an intuitive awareness

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

bowed stringed instrument that is the highest member of the violin family; this instrument has four strings and a hollow body and an unfretted fingerboard and is played with a bow

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

past form of “flex” — contract

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

highest in quality

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

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

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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 “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

a male sovereign; ruler of a kingdom

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

an association of sports teams that organizes matches for its members

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

above and across; more than

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

(baseball) the person who does the pitching

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

plural of “pitcher” — (baseball) the person who does the pitching

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

the application of plaster

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

precisely, exactly

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

be equal to in quality or ability

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

Identical; not different.

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

a soft white precious univalent metallic element having the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal; occurs in argentite and in free form; used in coins and jewelry and tableware and photography

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

liquid food especially of meat or fish or vegetable stock often containing pieces of solid food

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

unique or specific to a person or thing or category

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

plural of “star” — (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

characterized by or performed with much energy or force

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

inflected form of “swing” — move in a curve or arc, usually with the intent of hitting

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

a cooperative unit (especially in sports)

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

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

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

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

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

someone who twirls a baton

From this reading “How’s the old soup bone to-day, Joe?” asked Jim Barclay, pitcher of the Giant team, of his special chum, Joe Matson, king boxman of the same team and known all over the country as the greatest twirler in either league.

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

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

plural of “victor” — a combatant who is able to defeat rivals

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

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

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

a defeat in which the losing person or team fails to score

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.

marked by repeated turns and bends

From this reading “Fine as a fiddle, old boy,” answered Joe, better known to American fans as “Baseball Joe,” as he flexed the biceps of his mighty right arm and swung it around and around as though he were winding up.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading Author of “BASEBALL JOE OF THE SILVER STARS,” “BASEBALL JOE AROUND THE WORLD,” “THE RIVAL PITCHERS,” “THE EIGHT-OARED VICTORS,” ETC.

the day immediately before today

From this reading “Feels as though I could pitch to-day, even if I did have my turn in the box yesterday.”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “It must be made of iron then, for you certainly had a strenuous time yesterday plastering the whitewash on the Dodgers,” answered Jim admiringly.