Chapter III

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

(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 One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

make it possible through a specific action or lack of action for something to happen

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

plural of “amusement” — a feeling of delight at being entertained

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

a very young child (birth to 1 year) who has not yet begun to walk or talk

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

in addition to; as well as

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

a friend who is frequently in the company of another

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

a female human offspring

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

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

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

possessive form of “ellas” — a republic in southeastern Europe on the southern part of the Balkan peninsula; known for grapes and olives and olive oil

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

the cardinal number that is the sum of fourteen and one

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

plural of “flower” — a plant cultivated for its blooms or blossoms

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

the act of departing

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

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

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

plural of “hill” — a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

and nothing more

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

a body of (usually fresh) water surrounded by land

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

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

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

held dear

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

and nothing more

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

a legal document giving official permission to do something

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

not often

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

cut with a saw

From this reading The village children all went to the village school, and Ella seldom saw any of them.

an educational institution

From this reading The village children all went to the village school, and Ella seldom saw any of them.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

not often

From this reading The village children all went to the village school, and Ella seldom saw any of them.

a private place of education for the young

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

have in common

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

bypass

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

a male human offspring

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

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

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The village children all went to the village school, and Ella seldom saw any of them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

one of three equal parts of a divisible whole

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

plural of “tragedy” — an event resulting in great loss and misfortune

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

two years of age

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading The village children all went to the village school, and Ella seldom saw any of them.

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

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

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

From this reading The village children all went to the village school, and Ella seldom saw any of them.

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

From this reading THE THREE TRAGEDIES OF ELLA’S SEMINARY LIFE At the seminary there were only three children besides Ella.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

in the company of; together with

From this reading One was two-year-old Nellie, the steward’s daughter, whom she loved with all her heart.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

a late time of life

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.

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

From this reading For this little sister there was rarely any real place in Ella’s world; she was too young for a companion and too old for a baby; but just as Ned, the steward’s son, fifteen years old, would sometimes allow Ella, “going on nine,” to share his amusements, so Ella would occasionally permit John, “going on seven,” to go to the lake with her to skip stones, or to the hills for wild flowers.

used of the younger of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a son from his father

From this reading The second was John, and the third was his little sister, two years younger than he.