Chapter XX

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading “Who am I a-talkin’ of, ef ’tain’t Doctor Fisher?” said Mr. Atkins irritably.

(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 SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

the form of “be” used with “I”

From this reading “Who am I a-talkin’ of, ef ’tain’t Doctor Fisher?” said Mr. Atkins irritably.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading “Of course,” said the Deacon, helping himself to another cracker to top off the cheese.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

come out better in a competition, race, or conflict

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

a solid food prepared from the pressed curd of milk

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

education imparted in a series of lessons or meetings

From this reading “Of course,” said the Deacon, helping himself to another cracker to top off the cheese.

a thin crisp wafer made of flour and water with or without leavening and shortening; unsweetened or semisweet

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

a Protestant layman who assists the minister

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eleven and one

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

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

From this reading “Who am I a-talkin’ of, ef ’tain’t Doctor Fisher?” said Mr. Atkins irritably.

someone whose occupation is catching fish

From this reading “Who am I a-talkin’ of, ef ’tain’t Doctor Fisher?” said Mr. Atkins irritably.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

the -ing form of “have”

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal

From this reading “Of course,” said the Deacon, helping himself to another cracker to top off the cheese.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading “Of course,” said the Deacon, helping himself to another cracker to top off the cheese.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading “Who am I a-talkin’ of, ef ’tain’t Doctor Fisher?” said Mr. Atkins irritably.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

discontinued temporarily

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

past form of “introduce” — cause to come to know personally

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

in a petulant manner

From this reading “Who am I a-talkin’ of, ef ’tain’t Doctor Fisher?” said Mr. Atkins irritably.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “POLLY KISSED IT!”

past form of “kiss” — touch with the lips or press the lips (against someone's mouth or other body part) as an expression of love, greeting, etc.

From this reading “POLLY KISSED IT!”

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 He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

a form of address for a man

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading “Of course,” said the Deacon, helping himself to another cracker to top off the cheese.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

above and across; more than

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading “POLLY KISSED IT!”

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

the act of physically reaching or thrusting out

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

a small fragment of something broken off from the whole

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

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

From this reading “Who am I a-talkin’ of, ef ’tain’t Doctor Fisher?” said Mr. Atkins irritably.

the fifth day of the week; the fourth working day

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

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

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

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

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

the upper part of anything

From this reading “Of course,” said the Deacon, helping himself to another cracker to top off the cheese.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading He knew the story, having heard it a good dozen times, but he wanted some of the other ears to be introduced to it.

which person or people

From this reading “Who am I a-talkin’ of, ef ’tain’t Doctor Fisher?” said Mr. Atkins irritably.

an affirmative

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading SAID DAVIE “Yes, it beat all,” said Mr. Atkins, “how he come in and begun looking around--” “You mean th’ Doctor,” interrupted Deacon Blodgett, reaching over for a scrap of cheese to put on his cracker.