Chapter III

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

(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 THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading The door was low and always open, for there was no window.

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

providing no shelter or sustenance

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

offering little or no hope

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

like or characteristic of or befitting a brother

From this reading There they worked in most brotherly friendship, though with little encouragement.

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading It was a hut built of clay and wattles.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

period extending from Dec. 24 to Jan. 6

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

a very fine-grained soil that is plastic when moist but hard when fired

From this reading It was a hut built of clay and wattles.

possessive form of “cobbler” — a person who makes or repairs shoes

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

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

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

the skilled practice of a practical occupation

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

a man who is a stupid incompetent fool

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

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

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading The door was low and always open, for there was no window.

the expression of approval and support

From this reading There they worked in most brotherly friendship, though with little encouragement.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

start firing a weapon

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

the state of being friends (or friendly)

From this reading There they worked in most brotherly friendship, though with little encouragement.

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

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

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

temporary military shelter

From this reading It was a hut built of clay and wattles.

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

plural of “inhabitant” — a person who inhabits a particular place

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a hut built of clay and wattles.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The door was low and always open, for there was no window.

engage in

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

the location of something surrounded by other things

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

secure in or as if in a berth or dock

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

used to form the superlative

From this reading There they worked in most brotherly friendship, though with little encouragement.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

not any; not one

From this reading The door was low and always open, for there was no window.

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

on one occasion

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

and nothing more

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading The door was low and always open, for there was no window.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

superlative of “poor” — deserving or inciting pity

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

a protective covering that covers or forms the top of a building

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

clean with hard rubbing

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

refrain from harming

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

a compartment in a stable where a single animal is confined and fed

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

of a quantity that can fulfill a need or requirement but without being abundant

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

a special situation

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading There they worked in most brotherly friendship, though with little encouragement.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

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

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

the commercial exchange (buying and selling on domestic or international markets) of goods and services

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

a community of people smaller than a town

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

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

From this reading It was a hut built of clay and wattles.

plural of “wattle” — a fleshy wrinkled and often brightly colored fold of skin hanging from the neck or throat of certain birds (chickens and turkeys) or lizards

From this reading It was a hut built of clay and wattles.

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

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

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

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

which person or people

From this reading THE CHRISTMAS CUCKOO "Once upon a time there stood in the midst of a bleak moor, in the north country, a certain village; all its inhabitants were poor, for their fields were barren, and they had little trade, but the poorest of them all were two brothers called Scrub and Spare, who followed the cobbler's craft, and had but one stall between them.

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

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading The door was low and always open, for there was no window.

in the company of; together with

From this reading There they worked in most brotherly friendship, though with little encouragement.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading The roof did not entirely keep out the rain, and the only thing comfortable about it was a wide hearth, for which the brothers could never find wood enough to make a sufficient fire.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading There they worked in most brotherly friendship, though with little encouragement.