Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

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

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

inflected form of “awake” — stop sleeping

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

a narrative song with a recurrent refrain

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

for the reason that

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

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

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

eat an early morning meal

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

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

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

discover or come upon accidentally, suddenly, or unexpectedly; catch somebody doing something or in a certain state

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

recite with musical intonation; recite as a chant or a psalm

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

a hired hand who tends cattle and performs other duties on horseback

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

the first light of day

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

earnest and conscientious activity intended to do or accomplish something

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

the totality of surrounding conditions

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

a process in which something passes by degrees to a different stage (especially a more advanced or mature stage)

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

past form of “fail” — fail to do something; leave something undone

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

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

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

large in amount or extent or degree

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

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

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

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

From this reading He lay still a moment, listening.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

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

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

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

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

a humming noise

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

ten 10s

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

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

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

having much knowledge or education

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He lay still a moment, listening.

used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

the act of hearing attentively

From this reading He lay still a moment, listening.

lacking companions or companionship

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

belonging to the modern era; since the Middle Ages

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

a particular point in time

From this reading He lay still a moment, listening.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

in accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

not any; not one

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

the state of being disregarded or forgotten

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

a long wandering and eventful journey

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

many times at short intervals

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

To move from a closed position.

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

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

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

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

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

by chance

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

a writer of poems (the term is usually reserved for writers of good poetry)

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

plural of “proportion” — the quotient obtained when the magnitude of a part is divided by the magnitude of the whole

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

on the contrary

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

past form of “remember” — recall knowledge from memory; have a recollection

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

past form of “result” — issue or terminate (in a specified way, state, etc.); end

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

Got or brought back something that was lost or hidden.

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

held in check with difficulty

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

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

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

in or at or to some place

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

a short musical composition with words

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

an ungainly posture with arms and legs spread about

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

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

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

not in physical motion

From this reading He lay still a moment, listening.

inflected form of “strive” — attempt by employing effort

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

English actress (1847-1928)

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

possessive form of “terry” — English actress (1847-1928)

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

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

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

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

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

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

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

plural of “verse” — literature in metrical form

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

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

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

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

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

at the time that

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

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

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

the words that are spoken

From this reading At times when Terry's humming was smothered by the walls of the house, Packard's memory strove for the words which his ears failed to catch.

an indefinite quantity of something having a specified value

From this reading And more often than not the words, retrieved from oblivion, were less than worth the effort; no poet had builded the chant, which, rather, grown to goodly proportions of perhaps a hundred verses, had resulted from a natural evolution like a modern Odyssey, or some sprawling vine which was what it was because of its environment.

prolonged unfulfilled desire or need

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

a late time of life

From this reading He remembered the song, which, by the way, he had not heard for a good many years, the ballad of a cowboy sick and lonely in a big city, yearning for the open country.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading TERRY BEFORE BREAKFAST A gay young voice singing somewhere through the dawn awoke Steve Packard and informed him that Terry was up and about.