Chapter IX

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

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

willing to undertake or seeking out new and daring enterprises

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

(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 Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

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

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

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

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

used with a past participle to form the passive, or with -ing for continuous tenses

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

an anniversary of the day on which a person was born (or the celebration of it)

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

closed to traffic

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

think moodily or anxiously about something

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

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

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

a railcar where passengers ride

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

a joyful occasion for special festivities to mark some happy event

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

the child of your aunt or uncle

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

manner of acting or controlling yourself

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

plural of “door” — a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

a road leading up to a private house

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

the cardinal compass point that is at 90 degrees

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

plural of “elm” — any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

house for a farmer and family

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

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

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

past form of “front” — be oriented in a certain direction, often with respect to another reference point; be opposite to

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

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

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

plural of “going” — the act of departing

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

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

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

a neutral achromatic color midway between white and black

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

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

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

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

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

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

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

an opening into or through something

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

impressive in appearance

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

plural of “interval” — a definite length of time marked off by two instants

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

a coarse durable twill-weave cotton fabric

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

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 The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

possessive form of “lincoln” — 16th President of the United States; saved the Union during the American Civil War and emancipated the slaves; was assassinated by Booth (1809-1865)

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

most important element

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

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

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

a formally arranged gathering

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

plural of “meeting” — a formally arranged gathering

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

plural of “mother” — a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

plural of “notice” — an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

many times at short intervals

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

and nothing more

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

(often plural) a command given by a superior (e.g., a military or law enforcement officer) that must be obeyed

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

above and across; more than

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

-ing form of “overshadow” — be greater in significance than

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

a material made of cellulose pulp derived mainly from wood or rags or certain grasses

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

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

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

seen in the mind as a mental image

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

deep-bodied sooty-black pelagic spiny-finned fish of the northern Atlantic and northern Pacific; valued for food

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

affix in a public place or for public notice

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

publicly displayed

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

plural of “post” — the position where someone (as a guard or sentry) stands or is assigned to stand

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

a member of the Religious Society of Friends founded by George Fox (the Friends have never called themselves Quakers)

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

on the contrary

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

in accordance with truth or fact or reality

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

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

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

having a specified size

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

move stealthily

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

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

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

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 But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

plural of “tax” — charge against a citizen's person or property or activity for the support of government

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

a beverage made by steeping tea leaves in water

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

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

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

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

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading JEAN MOTHERS THE BROOD Cousin Roxy came down the following day and blocked out her plan for a celebration at the Town Hall on Lincoln’s Birthday.

having tucked or being tucked

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

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

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

the atmospheric conditions that comprise the state of the atmosphere in terms of temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

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

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

at the time that

From this reading The girls had pictured the Town Hall when they had first heard of it as a rather imposing edifice, imposing at least, for Gilead.

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

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

in the company of; together with

From this reading But it was really only a long, old gray building, one story high, built like a Quaker meeting house with two doors in front, carriage houses behind, and huge century-old elms overshadowing the driveway leading up to it.

bird with strong claws and a stiff tail adapted for climbing and a hard chisel-like bill for boring into wood for insects

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading Two tall weather worn posts fronted the main road, whereon at intervals were posted notices of town meetings, taxes, and all sorts of “goings on and doings,” as Cousin Roxy said.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading An adventurous woodpecker had pecked quite a good sized hole in the side of one post, and here a slip of paper would often be tucked with an order to the fishman to call at some out of the way farmhouse, or the tea and coffee man from way over near East Pomfret.