Chapter I · Chapter 1

affected manners intended to impress others

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

(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 Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

past form of “answer” — react verbally

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

any thing at all

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

past form of “argue” — present reasons and arguments

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

used as intensifiers

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

being in a state of proper equilibrium

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

(used in the plural) a percussion instrument consisting of a pair of hollow pieces of wood or bone (usually held between the thumb and fingers) that are made to click together (as by Spanish dancers) in rhythm with the dance

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

an occurrence of something

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

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

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

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

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

the fatty flesh of eel; an elongate fish found in fresh water in Europe and America; large eels are usually smoked or pickled

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

at any time

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

the organ of sight

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

(of materials or goods) brought to the desired final state

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

only a very short time before

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

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

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

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

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

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

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

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

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

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

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

talk socially without exchanging too much information

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

plural of “jaw” — the part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

past form of “last” — persist for a specified period of time

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

the collection of rules imposed by authority

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

hear with intention

From this reading Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

be successful; achieve a goal

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

of or relating to or consisting of muscle

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

the organ of smell and entrance to the respiratory tract; the prominent part of the face of man or other mammals

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

address a deity, a prophet, a saint or an object of worship; say a prayer

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

plural of “question” — an instance of questioning

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

make steady

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

the tangible substance that goes into the makeup of a physical object

From this reading Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

hard fat around the kidneys and loins in beef and sheep

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

express a supposition

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading Do you think I can listen all day to such stuff?

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one and one

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

comparative of “tough” — not given to gentleness or sentimentality

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

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

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

wanting in physical strength

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

used to ask for information about something

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

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

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading “In my youth,” said his father, “I took to the law, And argued each case with my wife; And the muscular strength which it gave to my jaw Has lasted the rest of my life.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth; “one would hardly suppose That your eye was as steady as ever; Yet you balanced an eel on the end of your nose-- What made you so awfully clever?”

but in spite of that

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading “I have answered three questions, and that is enough,” Said his father, “don’t give yourself airs!

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading “You are old,” said the youth, “and your jaws are too weak For anything tougher than suet; Yet you finished the goose, with the bones and the beak: Pray, how did you manage to do it?”