Chapter III

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

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

(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 She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

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

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

Queen of England and Scotland and Ireland; daughter if James II and the last of the Stuart monarchs; in 1707 she was the last English ruler to exercise the royal veto over parliament (1665-1714)

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

inflected form of “carry” — move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

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

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

opinion or judgment

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

set up or found

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

plural of “grapevine” — gossip spread by spoken communication

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

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

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

decoration that is hung (as a tapestry) on a wall or over a window

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

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

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

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

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

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

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

a rhythmic thrusting movement of the legs as in swimming or calisthenics

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

showing or feeling mirth or pleasure or happiness

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

used to form the superlative

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

on one occasion

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

above and across; more than

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

the state prevailing during the absence of war

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

(of games) engaged in

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

(of fluids) moving or issuing in a stream

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Very soon, Anne said.

so extremely intense as to evoke screams

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

encouragement in the form of cheers from spectators

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

the quality of being slight or inadequate

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

in the near future

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

having strength or power greater than average or expected

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

annoy persistently

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

up to a particular time

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

hard to endure

From this reading It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

precisely as stated

From this reading Very soon, Anne said.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

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 It began with their trying to tease her by shouting “Grandmother!” over the wall and running away.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading “It was wonderful the way she had with them.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

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

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

at the time that

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.

in the company of; together with

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading “It was wonderful the way she had with them.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading HOW SHE PLAYED WITH THE CHILDREN I ASKED Anne Peace once, when we were talking about Grandmother (it was not till the next year that we came to the village), how soon it was that the children found her out.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading She caught one of them and carried him into the garden screaming and kicking (she was strong, for all her slenderness), and soon she had him down in the grass listening to a story, eyes and mouth wide open, and all the rest of them hanging over the wall among the grapevines, “trying so hard to hear you could ’most see their ears grow!” said Anne, laughing.