Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

possessive form of “bobby” — an informal term for a British policeman

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a youthful male person

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But three weeks in the country!

showing who or what does the action

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

exhale abruptly, as when one has a chest cold or congestion

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading But three weeks in the country!

deprive of strength or efficiency; make useless or worthless

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

state emphatically and authoritatively

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

the articulation of speech regarded from the point of view of its intelligibility to the audience

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

plural of “dog” — 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 Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

in or associated with the process of passing from life or ceasing to be

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

take in solid food

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

your parents

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a young female

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

heal or recover

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

past form of “house” — contain or cover

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading They would think themselves lucky; _that's_ how the world jogs!

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

plural of “jog” — a sharp change in direction

From this reading They would think themselves lucky; _that's_ how the world jogs!

the emotion of great happiness

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

occurring by chance

From this reading They would think themselves lucky; _that's_ how the world jogs!

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a field where grass or alfalfa are grown to be made into hay

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

mean or intend to express or convey

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

secure in or as if in a berth or dock

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a land mass that projects well above its surroundings; higher than a hill

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

except for; apart from

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

plural of “servant” — a person working in the service of another (especially in the household)

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a waste pipe that carries away sewage or surface water

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

the property of being physically or mentally strong

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

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

From this reading They would think themselves lucky; _that's_ how the world jogs!

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

From this reading They would think themselves lucky; _that's_ how the world jogs!

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading They would think themselves lucky; _that's_ how the world jogs!

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading They would think themselves lucky; _that's_ how the world jogs!

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

From this reading But three weeks in the country!

not refined or processed

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

lacking care and attention

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading But three weeks in the country!

(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, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

an old and formal word for “while”

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading Why, that would mean joy, And new life for the girl, and fresh strength for the boy.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

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

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading They would think themselves lucky; _that's_ how the world jogs!

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

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading The meadow would heal them, the mountain might save, _Won't_ you give them a chance on the moor, by the wave?

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Well, BOBBY'S a cripple, and BESS has a cough, Which, untended, next winter may "carry her off," As her folks in their unrefined diction declare; They are dying, these children, for food and fresh air, And their slum is much more like a sewer than a street, Whilst their food is--not such as your servants would eat; Were they housed like your horses, or fed like your dogs.