Chapter VIII

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

higher than, or over, something

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

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

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

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

From this reading “‘To be sure, mum,’ says I.

plural of “boot” — footwear that covers the whole foot and lower leg

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “‘Can you make room for me, Jan?’ she says.

a young person of either sex

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

slightly dark

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

fish-eating bird of warm inland waters having a long flexible neck and slender sharp-pointed bill

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

a quad with a square body

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

the cardinal number that is the sum of four and one

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “‘Can you make room for me, Jan?’ she says.

the cardinal number that is the sum of three and one

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

the first month of the year; begins 10 days after the winter solstice

From this reading “‘Can you make room for me, Jan?’ she says.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

someone who doesn't understand what is going on

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

engage in

From this reading “‘Can you make room for me, Jan?’ she says.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading “‘Can you make room for me, Jan?’ she says.

inflected form of “meet” — come together

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

one of the twelve divisions of the calendar year

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

failing to speak or communicate etc when expected to

From this reading “‘To be sure, mum,’ says I.

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

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading “‘Can you make room for me, Jan?’ she says.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading “‘Can you make room for me, Jan?’ she says.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading “You see, ’twas this way.

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

From this reading “‘Can you make room for me, Jan?’ she says.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading “‘To be sure, mum,’ says I.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading “You see, ’twas this way.

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

From this reading “‘To be sure, mum,’ says I.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading “You see, ’twas this way.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

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

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “You see, ’twas this way.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’

at the time that

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

a tract of open rolling country (especially upland)

From this reading I took up Mary--that’s the darter--an’ her little child--a hinfant it was, not above four or five month old; I took ’em up first, an’ we was goin’ along the road Branston-ways, an’ it was gettin’ darkish when the wold lady met us.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You see, ’twas this way.

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

From this reading ‘I bain’t so young as I was, an’ I’ve a-got a pair o’ new boots what do fair lame me.’