Chapter XXV

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

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

(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 “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

a quantity of money

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

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

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

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

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

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

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

plural of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

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

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

A person who commits illegal entry into a building with intent to steal valuable treasures.

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

inflected form of “come” — move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

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

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

plural of “catch” — a drawback or difficulty that is not readily evident

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

give encouragement to

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

in a cheerful manner

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

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

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

a rattling noise (often produced by rapid movement)

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

having color or a certain color; sometimes used in combination

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

a disorderly outburst or tumult

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

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

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading Finally he got into a quarrel about the Great War.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

in a fussy manner

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

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

From this reading Finally he got into a quarrel about the Great War.

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

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

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

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

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

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

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

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

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

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

of great significance or value

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

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

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

a message received and understood

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Finally he got into a quarrel about the Great War.

and nothing more

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

engage in

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

used to form the superlative

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

dish baked in pastry-lined pan often with a pastry top

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

an angry dispute

From this reading Finally he got into a quarrel about the Great War.

small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

past form of “scream” — utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

the region of the United States lying to the south of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

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

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

in or at that place or location

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

United States clockmaker who introduced mass production (1785-1859)

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

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

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

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

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

the sound made by the vibration of vocal folds modified by the resonance of the vocal tract

From this reading I never heard such a clatter of talk from any bird as came from Vox Clamanti, the head robin.

the waging of armed conflict against an enemy

From this reading Finally he got into a quarrel about the Great War.

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

From this reading BLACK THOMAS CATCHES A BURGLAR There was a great commotion in this neighborhood on the first of April, for then the robins came back.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

in or at the place that

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Instead of contenting himself with saying, “Cheer up cheerily, cheer up cheerily,” as the other robins did, he just screamed a great amount of information about where he had spent the winter and what he had been doing, and how the colored people down South had tried to catch him, to make pie, but he was too smart for them.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Of course, you know, birds,” he said fussily, “that robins are the most important birds in the world, and the war was all about them.