Chapter IV

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

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

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

From this reading MINNIE AND THE SQUIRREL.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

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

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

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

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

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

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

go upward with gradual or continuous progress

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

taking a series of rhythmical steps (and movements) in time to music

From this reading "Can't I?" said Minnie, and another minute she was dancing along the rail.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

not obeying or complying with commands of those in authority

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

enclose with a fence

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

a young female

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

inflected form of “hop” — jump lightly

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading "Can't I?" said Minnie, and another minute she was dancing along the rail.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

held dear

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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 So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

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

From this reading MINNIE AND THE SQUIRREL.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading "Can't I?" said Minnie, and another minute she was dancing along the rail.

a written account of what transpired at a meeting

From this reading So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading "Can't I?" said Minnie, and another minute she was dancing along the rail.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Can't I?" said Minnie, and another minute she was dancing along the rail.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

any of several small dull-colored singing birds feeding on seeds or insects

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail

From this reading MINNIE AND THE SQUIRREL.

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

disclosing unintentionally something concealed

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading MINNIE AND THE SQUIRREL.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

the upper part of anything

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

a source of difficulty

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading So she seated herself on the door-step, and was quiet as many as two minutes.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

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

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"

at the time that

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

morally bad in principle or practice

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

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

From this reading One day, when Minnie's mother had been telling her how wicked it was to be so disobedient, and how much trouble she gave every one that loved her, the little girl thought she never would climb another fence, but would begin now, and be good.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Then a little brown sparrow came hopping, hopping along the top of the fence, and stopped a short way off, and chirped, as if he were saying, "You can't catch me!"