Chapter XI · Chapter 11

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

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

later than; following

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

plural of “afternoon” — the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

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

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

past form of “baste” — cover with liquid before cooking

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading And now it was finished, and the quilting had begun.

plural of “block” — a solid piece of something (usually having flat rectangular sides)

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

a commercial or industrial enterprise and the people who constitute it

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

made of calico or resembling calico in being patterned

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

a flag that shows its nationality

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

a conference (usually with someone important)

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

separate with or as if with an instrument

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

recognizable; marked

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

owed and payable immediately or on demand

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

relatively long in duration; tediously protracted

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading The patchwork quilt was finished.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

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

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

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

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

compatibility in opinion and action

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

of great significance or value

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading And now it was finished, and the quilting had begun.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

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

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

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 pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

having notes of fixed rhythmic value

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

possessive form of “minister” — a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

fail to perceive or to catch with the senses or the mind

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

greatly increased as by multiplication

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

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

From this reading And now it was finished, and the quilting had begun.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

something determined in relation to something that includes it

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

a theory or argument made up of miscellaneous or incongruous ideas

From this reading The patchwork quilt was finished.

plural of “piece” — a separate part of a whole

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

venous swelling external or internal to the anal sphincter

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

bedding made of two layers of cloth filled with stuffing and stitched together

From this reading The patchwork quilt was finished.

stitching through layers of fabric and a filling so as to create a design

From this reading THE QUILTING.

(usually preceded by “in”) a detail or point

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

joining or attaching by stitches

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

being one more than fifteen

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

plural of “strip” — a relatively long narrow piece of something

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

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

From this reading THE QUILTING.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

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

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

given a completely different form or appearance

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

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

From this reading The patchwork quilt was finished.

the fourth day of the week; the third working day

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

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

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Miss Ruth had decided, after a consultation with the minister's wife, that the girls might do this most important and difficult part of the business.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The pieces of calico Miss Ruth from week to week had measured and cut and basted together, with due regard to contrast and harmony of colors, were transformed into piles of gay-colored blocks; the blocks multiplied and extended themselves into strips, and the strips basted together had kept sixteen little hands "sewing the long seam" for three Wednesday afternoons.