Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

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

From this reading “That is all a pack of nonsense,” said he.

third-person singular of “abound” — be abundant or plentiful; exist in large quantities

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

enthusiastic approval

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

anew

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

(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 Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

-ing form of “arise” — come into existence; take on form or shape

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

a flexible container with a single opening

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

call upon in supplication; entreat

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

past form of “chastise” — censure severely

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

possessive form of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

plural of “domestic” — a servant who is paid to perform menial tasks around the household

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

the state of being unsure of something

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

a feeling of great liking for something wonderful and unusual

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

personal knowledge or information about someone or something

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

bringing death

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

being the sex (of plant or animal) that produces fertilizable gametes (ova) from which offspring develop

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

a bow used in playing the violin

From this reading “Fiddlestick!” said the miniature snarler.

occurring at or forming an end or termination

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

gay or light-hearted recreational activity for diversion or amusement

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “That is all a pack of nonsense,” said he.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

of or relating to the study of history

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

the aggregate of past events

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “That is all a pack of nonsense,” said he.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

property that is leased or rented out or let

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

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

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

something that is lost

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

characteristic of a mother

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts)

From this reading “Fiddlestick!” said the miniature snarler.

(economics) a market in which there are many buyers but only one seller

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

concerned with principles of right and wrong or conforming to standards of behavior and character based on those principles

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

possessive form of “murphy” — an edible tuber native to South America; a staple food of Ireland

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

a message that seems to convey no meaning

From this reading “That is all a pack of nonsense,” said he.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “That is all a pack of nonsense,” said he.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

arrange in a container

From this reading “That is all a pack of nonsense,” said he.

plural of “pass” — (baseball) an advance to first base by a batter who receives four balls

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

of or relating to punishment

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

plural of “point” — a geometric element that has position but no extension

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

To recall to mind.

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

plural of “result” — a phenomenon that follows and is caused by some previous phenomenon

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “That is all a pack of nonsense,” said he.

only a very short time before

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

in a serious manner

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

the display of a motion picture

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

term of address for a man

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “Fiddlestick!” said the miniature snarler.

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

the utterance of intelligible speech

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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 Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “That is all a pack of nonsense,” said he.

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

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

one of the digits of the foot

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

possessive form of “tom” — male cat

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

make physical contact with, come in contact with

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

feelings of excessive pride

From this reading “First, the little touch about the corn monopoly [1]--then maternal vanity chastised by the loss of the child's toe--then Tom's familiarity with his cat, showing the danger arising from a man making too free with his female domestics--the historical point about the penal laws--the fatal results of letting the cat out o' the bag, with the curious final fact in natural history.”

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

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

accept gladly

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Murphy's story was received with acclamation by all but the little man.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

the feeling aroused by something strange and surprising

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

extraordinarily good or great; used especially as intensifiers

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”

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

From this reading “Well, you're welcome to it, sir,” said Murphy, “and if I had greater nonsense you should have it; but seriously, sir, I again must beg you to remember that the country all around here abounds in enchantment; scarcely a night passes without some fairy frolic; but, however you may doubt the wonderful fact of the cat speaking, I wonder you are not impressed with the points of moral in which the story abounds--”