Chapter I

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

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

extensive landed property (especially in the country) retained by the owner for his own use

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

how long something has existed

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

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

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

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

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

fruit with red or yellow or green skin and sweet to tart crisp whitish flesh

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

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

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

plural of “bargain” — an agreement between parties (usually arrived at after discussion) fixing obligations of each

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

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

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

relevant relation or interconnection

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

the supreme effort one can make

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

plural of “boarder” — a tenant in someone's house

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

past form of “cease” — put an end to a state or an activity

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

marked by continuous change or effective action

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

plural of “city” — a large and densely populated urban area; may include several independent administrative districts

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

under normal conditions

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

the prevailing context that influences the performance or the outcome of a process

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

plural of “contrast” — the opposition or dissimilarity of things that are compared

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

plural of “cranny” — a long narrow depression in a surface

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

the process of gradually becoming inferior

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

every one of two or more people or things, taken separately

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

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

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

exceedingly; extremely

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

plural of “farmer” — a person who operates a farm

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

the practice of cultivating the land or raising stock

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

all the people living at the same time or of approximately the same age

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

used of old persons or old trees; covered with knobs or knots

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

a small growth of trees without underbrush

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

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

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

plural of “guest” — a visitor to whom hospitality is extended

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

fit for habitation

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

only a very short time before

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

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

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

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

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

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

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

tied with a knot

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

possessive form of “l” — a metric unit of capacity, formerly defined as the volume of one kilogram of pure water under standard conditions; now equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters (or approximately 1.75 pints)

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

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

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

the experience of being alive; the course of human events and activities

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

for more time

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

lie in wait, lie in ambush, behave in a sneaky and secretive manner

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

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 Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

plural of “maple” — wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

used to form the superlative

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

disregarded

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

not any; not one

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

plural of “nook” — a sheltered and secluded place

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

and nothing more

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

above and across; more than

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

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

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

the act of putting something in working order again

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

apartment consisting of a series of connected rooms used as a living unit (as in a hotel)

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

plural of “season” — a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

an elevated geological formation

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

make square

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

not in physical motion

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

plural of “stretch” — a large and unbroken expanse or distance

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

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

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The people are still farmers, but most of them are no longer farmers only.

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

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

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

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

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

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

plural of “town” — an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

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

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading But in this way they eke out the living grudged them by their neglected acres, and keep their houses in a repair that contrasts with the decay of their farming.

the countries of (originally) Europe and (now including) North America and South America

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

any or all of a kind, it does not matter which

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

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

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.

in the company of; together with

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading In the summer they give up the habitable rooms of their old square wooden houses to boarders from the cities, and lurk about in the nooks and crannies of their L’s and lean-to’s; and, whatever their guests may have to complain of, have hardly the best of the bargains they drive with them.

plural of “wound” — an injury to living tissue (especially an injury involving a cut or break in the skin)

From this reading Each place has its grove of maples, fantastically gnarled and misshapen from the wounds of many sugar seasons; and an apple orchard, commonly almost past bearing with age, stretches its knotted boughs over a slope near the house.

past form of “yield” — be the cause or source of

From this reading West Pekin is one of those country places which have yielded to changing conditions and have ceased to be the simple farming towns of a past generation.