Chapter XIX

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

later than; following

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

Roman general under Julius Caesar in the Gallic wars; repudiated his wife for the Egyptian queen Cleopatra; they were defeated by Octavian at Actium (83-30 BC)

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

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

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

a person who pays more attention to formal rules and book learning than they merit

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

made or become different in nature or form

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

tendency to believe readily

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

to move (the head or body) quickly downwards or away

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

chemical process in which one atom or ion or group changes places with another

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

a social unit living together

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

house for a farmer and family

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

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

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

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

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

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

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

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

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

kindness in welcoming guests or strangers

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

a social unit living together

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

a sense of concern with and curiosity about someone or something

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

showing or motivated by sympathy and understanding and generosity

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

someone who doesn't understand what is going on

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

the force of workers available

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

plural of “mermaid” — half woman and half fish; lives in the sea

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

befitting a mother; warm and nurturing

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

the essential qualities or characteristics by which something is recognized

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

information about recent and important events

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

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

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

Periods of darkness between sunset and sunrise.

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

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

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

an organization to gain political power

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

having or expressing strong emotions

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

someone who travels about selling his wares (as on the streets or at carnivals)

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

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

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

worried and uneasy

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

deliver by singing

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

experiencing or accompanied by sleeplessness

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

plural of “song” — a short musical composition with words

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

an emotion of great sadness associated with loss or bereavement

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

plural of “story” — a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

the rays of the sun

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

express in words

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

up to a particular time

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

plural of “upheaval” — a state of violent disturbance and disorder (as in politics or social conditions generally)

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

employed in accomplishing something

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

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

From this reading This pedlar--"Uncle" Anthony he was called--was a poet, and his piskies were real, as real as sunshine and shadow and the music of the birds.

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

From this reading Mrs. Andrawartha took kindly to the Bookworm; he was the lame duck of the party, and so she took a motherly interest in him, and got him to talk about himself and his sleepless, restless nights, until he came into this land wherein Nature was at rest, beautifying herself after passionate upheavals.

which person or people

From this reading At night all the household crowded around the pedlar to hear him fiddle and sing, and tell stories of the piskies, and of men who listened to the songs of mermaids, and disappeared from family and life.

in the company of; together with

From this reading And then she told him fairy stories about piskies with half-shy credulity, and sorrow in her face and voice that the old order had changed and given place to new.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading In her young days a pedlar with a big dog used to travel from farmhouse to farmhouse, and always got hospitality in exchange for news.