Chapter XII

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

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

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

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

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

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

plural of “biscuit” — small round bread leavened with baking-powder or soda

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

past form of “borrow” — get temporarily

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

the act of breaking something

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

the part of the face above the eyes

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading “I'll call you purty soon.

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

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

inflected form of “chop” — cut into pieces

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

a beverage consisting of an infusion of ground coffee beans

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

female of domestic cattle: "“moo-cow” is a child's term"

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

-ing form of “curry” — season with a mixture of spices; typical of Indian cooking

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

command with authority

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

a flour mixture stiff enough to knead or roll

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

having the power of driving or impelling

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

plural of “duty” — the social force that binds you to the courses of action demanded by that force

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

the act of consuming food

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

start firing a weapon

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

plural of “flake” — a crystal of snow

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

an established custom

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

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

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

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

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

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

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

plural of “horse” — solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

the first of three divisions of the Hebrew Scriptures comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible considered as a unit

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

any mechanical or electrical device that transmits or modifies energy to perform or assist in the performance of human tasks

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

The faculty by which the mind stores and remembers information and knowledge.

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

befitting a mother; warm and nurturing

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

-ing form of “obey” — be obedient to

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

above and across; more than

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

a field covered with grass or herbage and suitable for grazing by livestock

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

United States feminist (1885-1977)

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

plural of “pig” — domestic swine

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

shielding (or designed to shield) against harm or discomfort

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

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

From this reading “I'll call you purty soon.

plural of “ray” — a column of light (as from a beacon)

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

precisely, exactly

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

uttered with a trill

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

cause or allow (a liquid substance) to run or flow from a container

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

in the near future

From this reading “I'll call you purty soon.

the star that is the source of light and heat for the planets in the solar system

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

the act of someone who picks up or takes something

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

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

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

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

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

the quality of a person's voice

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

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

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

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

From this reading The first direct rays of the sun were breaking over the brow of the hill.

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

From this reading “I'll have the coffee an' biscuits done right off,” she said, in a motherly tone, which seemed to be borrowed from some past memory or the long-worn habit of protecting her sister.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading |LIKE a human machine obeying the laws of habit, Paul went about his usual morning duties, feeding and currying the horses, taking slop to the pigs, driving up the cow from the pasture, and chopping wood for the fire.

a pile or stack of wood to be used for fuel

From this reading Amanda came to him at the woodpile, rolling the flakes of dough from her fingers.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “I'll call you purty soon.