Chapter III · Chapter 3

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

From this reading "Anyhow, it's one of the very nicest things we've got."

the act of arranging and adapting a piece of music

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

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

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus Aster with showy daisylike flowers

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

plural of “aster” — any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus Aster with showy daisylike flowers

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

the sister of your father or mother; the wife of your uncle

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

for the reason that

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

of the color intermediate between green and violet; having a color similar to that of a clear unclouded sky

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

a round vessel that is open at the top; used chiefly for holding food or liquids

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

taking care or paying attention

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

(of hair) having curls or waves

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

sweetened mixture of milk and eggs baked or boiled or frozen

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

posing no difficulty; requiring little effort

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

past form of “explain” — make plain and comprehensible

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "Anyhow, it's one of the very nicest things we've got."

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

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

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

with strained or eager attention

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

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

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

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

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

and nothing more

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

superlative of “nice” — pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading "Anyhow, it's one of the very nicest things we've got."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

past form of “pause” — interrupt temporarily an activity before continuing

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

a feeling of self-respect and personal worth

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

be shown or be found to be

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

deliver a quick blow to

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

a purple color or pigment

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

put into a new order or arrangement

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

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

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

(linguistics) the form of a word after all affixes are removed

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Daddy says it's called that because it is just as easy to prove that Washington never did have punch from it as that he did."

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

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading "Anyhow, it's one of the very nicest things we've got."

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

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.

precisely as stated

From this reading "Anyhow, it's one of the very nicest things we've got."

the capital of the United States in the District of Columbia and a tourist mecca; George Washington commissioned Charles L'Enfant to lay out the city in 1791

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading "It's the 'Washington bowl,' Custard," she explained to the small curly black dog, watching her intently.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

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

From this reading "Anyhow, it's one of the very nicest things we've got."

a Caucasian

From this reading THE WAY OF A GRANDMOTHER Patricia sat on the back steps carefully arranging purple and white asters in an old blue and white punchbowl, the pride of her Aunt Julia's heart.

inclined to shake as from weakness or defect

From this reading Patricia paused to rearrange one particularly wobbly aster, too short as to stem and too big as to head.