Chapter XXVIII · Chapter 28

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

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "Rails, what are they?" asked Nat.

the verbal act of requesting

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

gymnastic apparatus consisting of two parallel wooden rods supported on uprights

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

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

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

plural of “car” — a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

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

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

take upon oneself; act presumptuously, without permission

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

enclose with a fence

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

make a fool or dupe of

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

ten 10s

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

plural of “keep” — the financial means whereby one lives

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

by chance

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "Rails, what are they?" asked Nat.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

above and across; more than

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

(of games) engaged in

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

plural of “prank” — acting like a clown or buffoon

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

a bar or pair of parallel bars of rolled steel making the railway along which railroad cars or other vehicles can roll

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

tall woody perennial grasses with hollow slender stems especially of the genera Arundo and Phragmites

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

any of many shrubs of the genus Rosa that bear roses

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

the atmosphere and outer space as viewed from the earth

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

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

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

an alloy of iron with small amounts of carbon; widely used in construction; mechanical properties can be varied over a wide range

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

carry out

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

made or having become thick

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

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

From this reading "I thought rails were the steel things that cars run on, or else some kind of fence bars."

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

up to a particular time

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

binary compound that occurs at room temperature as a clear colorless odorless tasteless liquid; freezes into ice below 0 degrees centigrade and boils above 100 degrees centigrade; widely used as a solvent

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

plural of “wave” — one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "Rails, what are they?" asked Nat.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading UP THE RIVER The thunder-clouds thickened until the whole sky was black; the tide rose in great waves, and the children were glad to be in the house.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading But the storm played so many strange pranks that they could not keep away from the windows, asking a hundred questions about things that cannot be put in a bird book.

the day immediately before today

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."

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

From this reading "If the water keeps up on end, as it is doing now," said Olaf, "it will be a week before I dare take you over to Gull Island; but I was talking to a man from up the river yesterday, and he says the reed shallows are full of Rails--maybe you'd like to see them."