Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

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

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

on foot; walking

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

(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 Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

a Hebrew shepherd and minor prophet

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

possessive form of “amos” — a Hebrew shepherd and minor prophet

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

a complex mental state involving beliefs and feelings and values and dispositions to act in certain ways

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

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

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

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

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

eat an early morning meal

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

with brightness

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

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

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

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

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

causing distress or worry or anxiety

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

take in solid food

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

divisible by two

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

at any time

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

opinion or judgment

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

after an unspecified period of time or an especially long delay

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

gleam or glow intermittently

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

destroyed or killed

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

past form of “guess” — expect, believe, or suppose

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

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

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

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

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

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

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

to a considerable degree

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

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

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

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

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

hold (someone) tightly in your arms, usually with fondness

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

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

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

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 Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

past form of “knock” — deliver a sharp blow or push

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

immediately past

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

the act of departing

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

plural of “mood” — a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

a form of address for a man

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

not any; not one

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

according to the clock

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

in other respects or ways

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

past form of “pass” — go across or through

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

by chance

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

have the will and intention to carry out some action

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

accomplished rapidly and without delay

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

a dissolute person; usually a man who is morally unrestrained

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

the work of a sailor

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

a general conscious awareness

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

a thing, without saying which

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

past form of “sparkle” — reflect brightly

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

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

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

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

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.

in or at that place or location

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

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

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading It was perhaps as well that Chris had more than enough to think of.

at the time that

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

slender flexible branches or twigs (especially of willow or some canes); used for wickerwork

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

showing curiosity

From this reading At ten o'clock that night, when Becky had gone heavily to her room, wondering perhaps why Chris had given her so hard a hug, Ned Cilley knocked at the back door.

a unit of language that native speakers can identify

From this reading Amos, quick to sense all Chris's moods, knew something was afoot, and when Chris and Mr. Wicker finally told him of the sailing plan, Amos's eyes grew rounder than ever and sparkled more brightly, but he said never a word.

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

From this reading His last day passed like a flash, though from his attitude no one, certainly not Becky, would have guessed that the next morning he would not be there to eat his breakfast in the sunny kitchen window.

twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates

From this reading Otherwise the wrench at leaving home might have been even more distressing than it was.