Chapter XXIII

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

be able to spare or give up

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

the second largest continent; located to the south of Europe and bordered to the west by the South Atlantic and to the east by the Indian Ocean

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

later than; following

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

in the past

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

very opposed in nature or character or purpose

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information etc.

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

an event that results in a transformation

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

annoyed and irritable

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

travel across or pass over

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

someone who escorts and protects a prominent person

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

quickly or rapidly (often used as a combining form)

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

the organization that is the governing authority of a political unit

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

educate for a future role or function

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

plural of “groom” — a man participant in his own marriage ceremony

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

a person who keeps watch over something or someone

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

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

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

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

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

and nothing more

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

possessive form of “man” — an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

the officer below the master on a commercial ship

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

device for converting sound waves into electrical energy

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

absolutely essential

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

cut slightly, with a razor

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

have ownership or possession of

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

having an owner; often used in combination

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

make a painting

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

give money, usually in exchange for goods or services

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

cause to become stonelike or stiff or dazed and stunned from fright

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

the property of having material worth (often indicated by the amount of money something would bring if sold)

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

something owned; any tangible or intangible possession that is owned by someone

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

one of five children born at the same time from the same pregnancy

From this reading QUIN.

any competition

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

a person who has died and has been declared a saint by canonization

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

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

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

skills that are required for the life of soldier

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

in the near future

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

walk heavily

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

successive (without a break)

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

a tramp who habitually arrives at sundown

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

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

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

(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 THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

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

From this reading Now grooms were hard to get, especially at the price I could afford to pay, and I did not want a man of the sundowner stamp.

very spiny and dense evergreen shrub with fragrant golden-yellow flowers; common throughout western Europe

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

which person or people

From this reading I used to race a bit in a small way, just for the sport, and it became necessary for me to employ a groom who must be my own private servant.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

in the company of; together with

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.

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

From this reading THE CONVERSION OF MIKE O'LEARY "Whin a man's that cross and crabbed that his sowle's as black as paint, An' his contrary conversation wud petrify a saint, And he will ate mate on fast days, an scornes the praste as well, Ould Nick will soon be after him, to escort him straight to (the guard room)."

a late time of life

From this reading Years ago I was soldiering in South Africa, and at that time owned a few horses, my own private property and nothing to do with the Government.