Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

speak to

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

(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 All those good fields and happy gardens are built over now.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

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

From this reading All those good fields and happy gardens are built over now.

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

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading DICKIE lived at New Cross.

writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Author of "The Wouldbegoods," "The Treasure Seekers," Etc.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

rub with a brush, or as if with a brush

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

travel across or pass over

From this reading DICKIE lived at New Cross.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

a small third seat in the back of an old-fashioned two-seater

From this reading DICKIE lived at New Cross.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

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

From this reading Author of "The Wouldbegoods," "The Treasure Seekers," Etc.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

disgustingly dirty; filled or smeared with offensive matter

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

productive or conducive to producing in abundance

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

plural of “garden” — a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

any creature of exceptional size

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading All those good fields and happy gardens are built over now.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

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

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

enjoying or showing or marked by joy or pleasure

From this reading All those good fields and happy gardens are built over now.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

exceedingly bad

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

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

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading DICKIE lived at New Cross.

plural of “merchant” — a businessperson engaged in retail trade

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

water soaked soil; soft wet earth

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading DICKIE lived at New Cross.

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

From this reading All those good fields and happy gardens are built over now.

any of various earths containing silica and alumina and ferric oxide; used as a pigment

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Author of "The Wouldbegoods," "The Treasure Seekers," Etc.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

on one occasion

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

plural of “orchard” — garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

above and across; more than

From this reading All those good fields and happy gardens are built over now.

make a painting

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

coated with paint

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

affording pleasure; being in harmony with your taste or likings

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

a large natural stream of water (larger than a creek)

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

a partly sheltered anchorage

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

plural of “seeker” — someone making a search or inquiry

From this reading Author of "The Wouldbegoods," "The Treasure Seekers," Etc.

an elevated geological formation

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

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

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

impressive in appearance

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

plural of “streak” — an unbroken series of events

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

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

From this reading Author of "The Wouldbegoods," "The Treasure Seekers," Etc.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading All those good fields and happy gardens are built over now.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

accumulated wealth in the form of money or jewels etc.

From this reading Author of "The Wouldbegoods," "The Treasure Seekers," Etc.

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

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

in or at the place that

From this reading At least the address was New Cross, but really the house where he lived was one of a row of horrid little houses built on the slope where once green fields ran down the hill to the river, and the old houses of the Deptford merchants stood stately in their pleasant gardens and fruitful orchards.

morally bad in principle or practice

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.

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

From this reading Author of "The Wouldbegoods," "The Treasure Seekers," Etc.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading It is as though some wicked giant had taken a big brush full of yellow ochre paint, and another full of mud color, and had painted out the green in streaks of dull yellow and filthy brown; and the brown is the roads and the yellow is the houses.