Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

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

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

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

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

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

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

movement that causes the formation of a curve

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

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

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

an assertion of a right (as to money or property)

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

rid of obstructions

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

past form of “construct” — make by combining materials and parts

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

female of domestic cattle: "“moo-cow” is a child's term"

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

patron saint of Wales (circa 520-600)

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

plural of “dimension” — the magnitude of something in a particular direction (especially length or width or height)

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

a longing for something better than the present situation

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

made less hopeful or enthusiastic

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

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

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

plural of “effort” — earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

left unplowed and unseeded during a growing season

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

plural of “farmland” — a rural area where farming is practiced

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

pathetically lacking in force or effectiveness

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

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

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

-ing form of “foreclose” — keep from happening or arising; make impossible

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

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

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

A small part broken or separated off something larger.

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

past form of “grunt” — issue a grunting, low, animal-like noise

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

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

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

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

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

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

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

the home and adjacent grounds occupied by a family

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

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

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

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

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

lacking spirit or liveliness

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

to incline or bend from a vertical position

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

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

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

a conditional conveyance of property as security for the repayment of a loan

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

a structure in which animals lay eggs or give birth to their young

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

above and across; more than

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

a small contrasting part of something

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

in a manner arousing sympathy and compassion

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

a writing implement with a point from which ink flows

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

domestic swine

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

plaything consisting of a small model of a house that children can play inside of

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

extremely

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

exert pressure or force to or upon

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

in fortunate circumstances financially; moderately rich

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

in an impolite manner

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

less than the correct or legal or full amount often deliberately so

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

a structure that provides privacy and protection from danger

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

past form of “show” — give an exhibition of to an interested audience

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

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

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

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

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

in the near future

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

required or under orders

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

past form of “switch” — change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body

From this reading Some discouraged looking fowls picked at the scant grass, a lean cow switched a lackadaisical tail, and in a pen a pig grunted his discontent.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

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

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

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

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

a heading that names a statute or legislative bill; may give a brief summary of the matters it deals with

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

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

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

all the plant life in a particular region or period

From this reading The patch of land supposed to be a garden, and in proportion to the dimensions of the building, showed a few feeble efforts at vegetation.

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

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

a tub in which clothes or linens can be washed

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

in a weary manner

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

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

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

in or at the place that

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

a woman whose husband is dead especially one who has not remarried

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading David went into the little kitchen, where a woman was bending wearily over a washtub.

land that is covered with trees and shrubs

From this reading David struck out from the shelter of the woodland and made his way to his home, a pathetically small, rudely constructed house.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading It was not positively known that the Widow Dunne had a clear title to her homestead, but one would as soon think of foreclosing a mortgage on a playhouse, or taking a nest from a bird, as to press any claim on this fallow fragment in the midst of prosperous farmlands.