Chapter II

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

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

anew

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

next to; at the side of

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

a youthful male person

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

obtain by purchase; acquire by means of a financial transaction

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

the protruding part of the lower jaw

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

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

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

experiencing delirium

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

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

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

plural of “drum” — a musical percussion instrument; usually consists of a hollow cylinder with a membrane stretched across each end

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

half the width of an em

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

at any time

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

a rise in the temperature of the body; frequently a symptom of infection

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading His little hands so white an’ thin!”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

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

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

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 An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading His little hands so white an’ thin!”

a strong positive emotion of regard and affection

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

informal terms for a mother

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

used to form the superlative

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

plural of “rub” — an unforeseen obstacle

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

censure severely or angrily

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

concerned with work or important matters rather than play or trivialities

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

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

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

plural of “shiver” — a reflex motion caused by cold or fear or excitement

From this reading An’ ’en my Ma, she rubs my head ’Ist burnin’ hot, an’ ’en her chin ’Ist shivers an’ she says: “Poor Ned!

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

third-person singular of “sit” — be seated

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

a vehicle mounted on runners and pulled by horses or dogs; for transportation over snow

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

a base found in DNA (but not in RNA) and derived from pyrimidine; pairs with adenine

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading His little hands so white an’ thin!”

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

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

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading An’ ’en she says she never knew How precious ’ist a boy could be, An’ when I’m well she’s goin’ t’ do ’Ist what I want her to for me.

at the time that

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

a Caucasian

From this reading His little hands so white an’ thin!”

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading An’ by and by my Aunty comes An’ says when I get well why she Don’t care if I have twenty drums, An’ she will buy a sled for me.

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

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading WHEN THEY LOVE YOU SO One time I’m awful sick in bed, An’ sometimes I’m delirious, ’Cuz I got fever in my head, An’ when I’m th’ most serious My Pa, he sits beside of me An’ ’en he rubs my head, an’ ’en He says when I get well, why, he Won’t ever scold his boy again.