Chapter XV

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

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

not being in a specified place

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

(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 When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

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

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

plural of “ancestor” — someone from whom you are descended (but usually more remote than a grandparent)

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

from appearances alone

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

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

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

plural of “branch” — a division of some larger or more complex organization

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

inflected form of “catch” — discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

to make a rush at or sudden attack upon, as in battle

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

plural of “cocoanut” — large hard-shelled oval nut with a fibrous husk containing thick white meat surrounding a central cavity filled (when fresh) with fluid or milk

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

past form of “consist” — originate

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

all of the offspring of a given progenitor

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

fill with distaste

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

let fall to the ground

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

past form of “exercise” — put to use

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

provide as food

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

plural of “fig” — a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

any of various games played with a ball (round or oval) in which two teams try to kick or carry or propel the ball into each other's goal

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

Not remembered; lapsed from memory.

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

a young female

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

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

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

the aggregate of past events

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

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

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

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

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

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

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

(used in combination) mentally oriented toward something specified

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

sporadically and infrequently

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

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

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

plural of “one” — the smallest whole number or a numeral representing this number

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

participate in games or sport

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

the sport of engaging in contests of speed

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

move hurridly

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

the act of causing something to move up and down (or back and forth) with quick movements

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

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

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

a symptom consisting of the involuntary expulsion of air from the nose

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

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

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

the act of spitting (forcefully expelling saliva)

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

plural of “sport” — an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

-ing form of “throw” — propel through the air

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

hard to endure

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

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

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.

in a violent manner

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

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

From this reading One little girl had caught a skunk which she was trying to feed with figs, to the great disgust of the skunk.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

at the time that

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

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

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

in the company of; together with

From this reading When Koree returned with his charge to the Ammi, these were engaged in one of their sports, which consisted in throwing cocoanuts, and the rush of all to get them, much as their descendants now play football.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

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

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

but in spite of that

From this reading All had apparently forgotten the absent ones; for the memory of our first ancestors was short, not having yet been exercised on history.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I told you to drop that skunk,” said an old woman, “and had you minded me you would not now be sneezing and spitting so violently.

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

From this reading Some of the younger ones amused themselves by racing up and down the trees trying to catch one another, and occasionally shaking each other from the branches.