Chapter II · Chapter 2

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

weapons considered collectively

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

having undesirable or negative qualities

From this reading "That's a bad job," said Uncle Dick.

completely unclothed

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "No-ah," said the man sourly; "and he wean't be here to-day."

a relatively permanent inclination to react in a particular way

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

move up and down repeatedly

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

someone who is a detective

From this reading "Is your master in?" said Uncle Dick.

an opposing military force

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Well, never mind; we want to go round the works."

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

in or at this place; where the speaker or writer is

From this reading "No-ah," said the man sourly; "and he wean't be here to-day."

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "Is your master in?" said Uncle Dick.

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

From this reading "Is your master in?" said Uncle Dick.

the principal activity in your life that you do to earn money

From this reading "That's a bad job," said Uncle Dick.

and nothing more

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

an artist of consummate skill

From this reading "Is your master in?" said Uncle Dick.

The element of a person that enables awareness and thought.

From this reading "Well, never mind; we want to go round the works."

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading "Well, never mind; we want to go round the works."

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

From this reading "No-ah," said the man sourly; "and he wean't be here to-day."

used of mouth or eyes

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading "Well, never mind; we want to go round the works."

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

past form of “scowl” — frown with displeasure

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

with short hair

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

plural of “shoulder” — the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

in a sour manner

From this reading "No-ah," said the man sourly; "and he wean't be here to-day."

cross one's eyes as if in strabismus

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "That's a bad job," said Uncle Dick.

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "No-ah," said the man sourly; "and he wean't be here to-day."

displeasing to the senses

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

feel or have a desire for; want strongly

From this reading "Well, never mind; we want to go round the works."

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

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

From this reading "No-ah," said the man sourly; "and he wean't be here to-day."

(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 "Well, never mind; we want to go round the works."

in the company of; together with

From this reading "I think we could keep out the enemy if he came," I said to Uncle Bob; and just then a short-haired, palefaced man, with bent shoulders, bare arms, and an ugly squint, opened the gate and scowled at us.

buildings for carrying on industrial labor

From this reading "Well, never mind; we want to go round the works."

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Is your master in?" said Uncle Dick.