Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

a positive feeling of liking

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

able to attract interest or draw favorable attention

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Not that his personality rasped society at large.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

highly favored or fortunate (as e.g. by divine grace)

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

cause to be bored

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

characterized by feeling or showing fond affection for

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

belonging to or participated in by a community as a whole; public

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

very opposed in nature or character or purpose

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

a small house with a single story

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

a state of deep-seated ill-will

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

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

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

opinion or judgment

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

not seriously

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

an ornamental facade

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

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

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

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

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

maintain (a theory, thoughts, or feelings)

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

a unit of inductance in which an induced electromotive force of one volt is produced when the current is varied at the rate of one ampere per second

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

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

From this reading Not that his personality rasped society at large.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

an anticipated outcome that is intended or that guides your planned actions

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

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

From this reading Not that his personality rasped society at large.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

having the nature of or resulting from malice

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

not any; not one

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not that his personality rasped society at large.

the act of making and recording a measurement

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

discover or determine the existence, presence, or fact of

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

past form of “offer” — make available or accessible, provide or furnish

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

(law) someone who owns (is legal possessor of) a business

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

uniquely or characteristically

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

the complex of all the attributes--behavioral, temperamental, emotional and mental--that characterize a unique individual

From this reading Not that his personality rasped society at large.

influenced or controlled by a powerful force such as a strong emotion

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

past form of “rasp” — scrape with a rasp

From this reading Not that his personality rasped society at large.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

worn away as by water or ice or wind

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

of grey resembling silver

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

being or characteristic of a single thing or person

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

an extended social group having a distinctive cultural and economic organization

From this reading Not that his personality rasped society at large.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

-ing form of “tame” — correct by punishment or discipline

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

given to sympathy or gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Not that his personality rasped society at large.

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

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

in the direction of

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

the act of testing something

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

not common or ordinarily encountered; unusually great in amount or remarkable in character or kind

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

bring to light

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

communicated in words

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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 "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.

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

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

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

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

which person or people

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

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

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

a carpet woven on a Jacquard loom with loops like a Brussels carpet but having the loops cut to form a close velvety pile

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

in the company of; together with

From this reading With Frontispiece by M. L. Greer Willie Spence was a trial.

an established custom

From this reading On the contrary his neighbors cherished toward the little old man, with his short-sighted blue eyes and his appealing smile, an affection peculiarly tender; and if they sometimes were wont to observe that although Willie possessed some common sense he was blessed with uncommon little of it, the observation was facetiously uttered and was offered with no malicious intent.

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

From this reading In fact had one scoured Wilton from end to end it would have been difficult to unearth a single individual who bore enmity toward the owner of the silver-gray cottage on the Harbor Road.

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

From this reading "The Harbor Road," "The Wall Between," "Taming of Zenas Henry," etc.