Chapter IV

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

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

(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 “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

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

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

completely unclothed

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

a long seat for more than one person

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

cause to be bored

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

the act of breaking something

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

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

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

demanding attention

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

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

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

plural of “dress” — a one-piece garment for a woman; has skirt and bodice

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

negligent of neatness especially in dress and person; habitually dirty and unkempt

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

deep and harsh sounding as if from shouting or illness or emotion

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

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

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

(often followed by “to”) having a preference, disposition, or tendency

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

to an inexpressible degree

From this reading They were all so inexpressibly old.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

a polite name for any woman

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

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

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

the sound of laughing

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

-ing form of “lift” — raise from a lower to a higher position

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

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 THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

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

From this reading They were all so inexpressibly old.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

creating a favorable impression

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

plural of “roar” — a deep prolonged loud noise

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

having or caused by an irregular surface

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

only a very short time before

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

lacking subtlety and insight

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

take away possessions from someone

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

a set of data arranged in rows and columns

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

an exchange of ideas via conversation

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

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

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

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

From this reading They were all so inexpressibly old.

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

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

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

a native of Yorkshire

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

the act of using

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading As they stood talking in groups, large and broad, with their frowsy hair and draggle-tailed dresses, lifting loud, rough voices and breaking from time to time into hoarse roars of laughter, they could scarcely be called prepossessing.

past form of “warn” — notify of danger, potential harm, or risk

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

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

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

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

From this reading They were all so inexpressibly old.

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

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

at the time that

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

which person or people

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.

plural of “woman” — an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

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

From this reading These were the girls who had warned a simple-minded lady Bible-reader that “if she didn’t tyke ’erself orf they’d strip her”—and they would have done it.

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading “What’s the use of crying when the mother that bore ye (Mary, pity women!) knew it all afore ye?”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading THE club room, large and bare, with a bench or two and one long table, was full of girls, though at first glance you might not have been inclined to call them so.