Chapter XXXVII · Chapter 37

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

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

later than; following

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

a particular environment or walk of life

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

plural of “back” — the posterior part of a human (or animal) body from the neck to the end of the spine

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

-ing form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

plural of “contortion” — the act of twisting or deforming the shape of something (e.g., yourself)

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

plural of “corps” — an army unit usually consisting of two or more divisions and their support

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

-ing form of “criticize” — find fault with; express criticism of; point out real or perceived flaws

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

believing the worst of human nature and motives; having a sneering disbelief in e.g. selflessness of others

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

in a dainty and fastidious manner

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

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

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

a document appraising the value of something (as for insurance or taxation)

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

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

From this reading Then two of the fan-tails had been taken ill.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

inflected form of “flop” — fall loosely

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

a period of fourteen consecutive days

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

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

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

(ancient Rome) a professional combatant or a captive who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

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

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

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

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

a midwestern state in north-central United States

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading Then two of the fan-tails had been taken ill.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

steps consisting of two parallel members connected by rungs; for climbing up or down

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

immediately past

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

floor consisting of a large unpartitioned space over a factory or warehouse or other commercial space

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

a married woman (usually middle-aged with children) who is staid and dignified

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

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

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

plural of “moment” — a particular point in time

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

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

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then two of the fan-tails had been taken ill.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

on one occasion

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

above and across; more than

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

support consisting of a branch or rod that serves as a resting place (especially for a bird)

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

relating to or characteristic of people of Rome

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

so surprisingly impressive as to stun or overwhelm

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

in a softened tone

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Then two of the fan-tails had been taken ill.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

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

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then two of the fan-tails had been taken ill.

in or at that place or location

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

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

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

the upper part of anything

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

past form of “toy” — behave carelessly or indifferently

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

a source of difficulty

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

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

From this reading Then two of the fan-tails had been taken ill.

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

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.

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

From this reading Putnam's Once More It was Sunday morning at Putnam's, and in Maudie's estimation things were more _comme il faut_ than they had been for long past.

at the time that

From this reading When after staggering about the fan-tails turned over on their backs and flopped, Maudie descended from her perch and toyed with them daintily during their last moments, finally carrying their corpses up into the loft.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Maudie from the top of the ladder had watched their dying contortions with the cynical interest of a Roman matron criticizing the death-agonies of a gladiator in the arena.

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading About a fortnight since there had been trouble in the yard during the night, and after it, for some hours before he went away, the Monster-without-Manners had been subdued almost to gentlemanliness.