Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

having help; often used as a combining form

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

(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 The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

react verbally

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

past form of “ask” — make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

be present at (meetings, church services, university), etc.

From this reading All they could get from him was that he had some important business to attend to.

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

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

in a carefree manner

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading All they could get from him was that he had some important business to attend to.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

having a low or inadequate temperature or feeling a sensation of coldness or having been made cold by e.g. ice or refrigeration

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

a state of being relaxed and feeling no pain

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

forsaken by owner or inhabitants

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

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

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

having the power of driving or impelling

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

decreasing in amount or degree

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

produced by or subjected to forcing

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

ranking above all others

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading All they could get from him was that he had some important business to attend to.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading All they could get from him was that he had some important business to attend to.

light informal conversation for social occasions

From this reading THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOSSIP.

past form of “greet” — express greetings upon meeting someone

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

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

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

plural of “heel” — the bottom of a shoe or boot; the back part of a shoe or boot that touches the ground and provides elevation

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

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

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

of great significance or value

From this reading All they could get from him was that he had some important business to attend to.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

a vaguely specified concern

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

a unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

capital of the state of Tennessee; located in the north central part of the state on the Cumberland River; known for country music

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

a surrounding or nearby region

From this reading THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOSSIP.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

express in words

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

try to get or reach

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

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

From this reading All they could get from him was that he had some important business to attend to.

at a steady rate or pace

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nine and one; the base of the decimal system

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

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

From this reading THE NEIGHBORHOOD GOSSIP.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

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

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

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

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

in a way that was not expected

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

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

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

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

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

at the time that

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading First and foremost they wanted to know why Beardsley had come home so unexpectedly, but that was a matter he did not care to say much about.

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The post-office was full of them, and when the captain walked in with Allison at his heels they greeted him boisterously, and asked more questions in a minute than he could answer in ten.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading The streets of Nashville were almost deserted, for the cold wind, aided by the driving rain that was falling steadily, had forced all the idlers to seek comfort within doors.