Chapter VI

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

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

higher than, or over, something

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

-ing form of “admire” — feel admiration for

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

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

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

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

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

an expectation

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

a demonstration of approval by clapping the hands together

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

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

From this reading It was Monday and a harvest day and Manda would be cross.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

of a stringed instrument; sounded by stroking with a bow

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

an administrative unit of government

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

made for or formed by carving (“carven” is archaic or literary)

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

past form of “clasp” — hold firmly and tightly

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

an outer garment that has sleeves and covers the body from shoulder down; worn outdoors

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

travel across or pass over

From this reading It was Monday and a harvest day and Manda would be cross.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was Monday and a harvest day and Manda would be cross.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

compelled forcibly by an outside agency

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

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

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading At once she sprang from bed.

applying to all or most members of a category or group

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

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

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

an event that happens

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

the yield from plants in a single growing season

From this reading It was Monday and a harvest day and Manda would be cross.

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

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

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

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

a very short time (as the time it takes the eye to blink or the heart to beat)

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was Monday and a harvest day and Manda would be cross.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

plural of “knee” — hinge joint in the human leg connecting the tibia and fibula with the femur and protected in front by the patella

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

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

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

a Dravidian language spoken in south central India

From this reading It was Monday and a harvest day and Manda would be cross.

(New Testament) disciple of Jesus; traditionally considered to be the author of the first Gospel

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

the second day of the week; the first working day

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

on one occasion

From this reading At once she sprang from bed.

a visual representation (of an object or scene or person or abstraction) produced on a surface

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

plural of “pineapple” — a tropical American plant bearing a large fleshy edible fruit with a terminal tuft of stiff leaves; widely cultivated in the tropics

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

done or occurring in a brief period of time

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

someone who helps to gather the harvest

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

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

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

a light shade of blue

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

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

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

inflected form of “spring” — move forward by leaps and bounds

From this reading At once she sprang from bed.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

reading carefully with intent to remember

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

the space created by the swing of a scythe or the cut of a mowing machine

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

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

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

a large gathering of people

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

inflected form of “tip” — cause to tilt

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

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

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

(usually in the plural) a garment extending from the waist to the knee or ankle, covering each leg separately

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

not usual or common or ordinary

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

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

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

leisure time away from work devoted to rest or pleasure

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

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

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

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

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

in or at the place that

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

a Caucasian

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

coated with whitewash

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

hairpiece covering the head and made of real or synthetic hair

From this reading She lay for an instant staring at the whitewashed walls, at the carved pineapples tipping the posts of her huge bed, and finally at a picture above her bureau in which General Washington, in red trousers, a sky-blue coat, and white wig, bowed to the admiring applause of a large throng.

inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading STUDYING IN VACATION Anticipation of some unusual happening woke Ellen early on Monday morning.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading She sat up, clasped her hands about her knees, and looked down upon the wheat-field where already the first swath had been cut by hand and where the reaper, driven by Matthew, was about to begin its more rapid work.

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

From this reading It was Monday and a harvest day and Manda would be cross.