Chapter V

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

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

From this reading AN IMPORTANT STEP.

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

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “I was wishing for something to read,” answered the boy.

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

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

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

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

shining intensely

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

a youthful male person

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

a person who is in charge

From this reading Indeed that was his chief trouble in those early days.

plural of “collection” — several things grouped together or considered as a whole

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

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

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Indeed that was his chief trouble in those early days.

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

From this reading Indeed that was his chief trouble in those early days.

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

an open recess in a wall at the base of a chimney where a fire can be built

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “I was wishing for something to read,” answered the boy.

-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

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

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

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

From this reading “I was wishing for something to read,” answered the boy.

of great significance or value

From this reading AN IMPORTANT STEP.

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

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading Indeed that was his chief trouble in those early days.

plural of “library” — a room where books are kept

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

confined to particular persons or groups or providing privacy

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

interpret something that is written or printed

From this reading “I was wishing for something to read,” answered the boy.

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

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

only a very short time before

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

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

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading “I was wishing for something to read,” answered the boy.

any maneuver made as part of progress toward a goal

From this reading AN IMPORTANT STEP.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Indeed that was his chief trouble in those early days.

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

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

the process of using your mind to consider something carefully

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading Indeed that was his chief trouble in those early days.

in a thoughtful manner

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

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

From this reading “I was wishing for something to read,” answered the boy.

a source of difficulty

From this reading Indeed that was his chief trouble in those early days.

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

From this reading “I was wishing for something to read,” answered the boy.

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

From this reading Libraries were scarce, and private collections equally scarce, especially in small country places.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.

a specific feeling of desire

From this reading “I was wishing for something to read,” answered the boy.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “What are you thinking about, Dan?” asked his mother one evening as the boy sat thoughtfully gazing at the logs blazing in the fireplace.