Chapter III

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

From this reading George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

belonging to or on behalf of a specified person (especially yourself); preceded by a possessive

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

(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 It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

an edge tool with a heavy bladed head mounted across a handle

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

past form of “blink” — briefly shut the eyes

From this reading George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

past form of “bounce” — spring back; spring away from an impact

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

(sports) a division during which one team is on the offensive

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

come open suddenly and violently, as if from internal pressure

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

the appearance conveyed by a person's face

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

approval

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

a Mid-Atlantic state; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

a very dark black

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

the pleasure felt when having a good time

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

intense or sharp

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

the organ of sight

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

Christian martyr; patron saint of England; hero of the legend of Saint George and the Dragon in which he slew a dragon and saved a princess (?-303)

From this reading George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

be shiny, as if wet

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

(physics) the force of attraction between all masses in the universe; especially the attraction of the earth's mass for bodies near its surface

From this reading George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

of greater importance or stature or rank

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

having or showing great strength or force or intensity

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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 It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

the quality of being slow to understand

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

an estate where cash crops are grown on a large scale (especially in tropical areas)

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

express in words

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

small stuff that is used for lashing two or more ropes together

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

marked by absence of sound

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

a natural protective body covering and site of the sense of touch

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

in a grave and sedate manner

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading The Major bounced to his feet, and seizing his hat and gloves from the table, burst out of the room.

any of various edible North American web-footed turtles living in fresh or brackish water

From this reading George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

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

From this reading George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

never dying

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

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 George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

possessive form of “washington” — 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 It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading It was to George Washington's undying credit that not a gleam flitted across his ebony countenance as he said solemnly, "Marse Nat, I ain say I _think_ nuttin--I jis ax you, Is you?--She been meckin mighty partic'lar quiration 'bout de plantation and how many niggers we got an' all an' I jis spicionate she got her eye sort o' set on you an' me, dat's all."

used to ask for information about something

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

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

From this reading It might have been obtuseness; or it might have been silent but exquisite enjoyment which lay beneath his black skin.

speaking softly without vibration of the vocal cords

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"

in the company of; together with

From this reading George Washington blinked with the gravity of a terrapin.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "George Washington," said the Major almost in a whisper, "what made you think that?"