Chapter IV · Phil Interviews His Grandmother

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

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

later than; following

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

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

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

past form of “attract” — direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

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

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

a general name for alcoholic beverages made by fermenting a cereal (or mixture of cereals) flavored with hops

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

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

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

events that provide the generative force that is the origin of something

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

having come or been brought to a conclusion

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

plural of “daughter” — a female human offspring

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

at any time

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

every person

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

a republic in western Europe; the largest country wholly in Europe

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

cake flavored with ginger

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

a young female

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

the act of departing

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

having an easygoing and cheerful disposition

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

a female grandchild

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

the past form of “have”, used to form the past perfect

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

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

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

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

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

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

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

a room or building equipped with one or more toilets

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

having or proceeding from an innately kind disposition

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

the act of departing

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

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

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

less than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

French bishop who is a patron saint of France (died in 397)

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

the mother of Jesus; Christians refer to her as the Virgin Mary; she is especially honored by Roman Catholics

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

a form of address for a man

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

out of fashion

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

United States feminist (1885-1977)

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

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

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

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

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

soft light-colored non-durable wood of the poplar

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

the act of losing or surrendering something as a penalty for a mistake or fault or failure to perform etc.

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

Identical; not different.

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

cut with a saw

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

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

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

being of delicate or slender build

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

disposed of to a purchaser

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

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

From this reading In fact, it was her pretty face which attracted honest John Ferguson when he was looking for some one to be a mother to his little girl.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

in an exhaustive manner

From this reading Margaret Martin was her real name, but everybody called her Peggy, and everybody liked her, she was so thoroughly kind-hearted and good-natured, and ready to sacrifice herself in every and any cause.

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

From this reading After leaving Mr. Beresford Phil concluded, before going home, to call on his grandmother and ask if she had ever heard of a granddaughter in France.

plural of “tree” — a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

everywhere

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

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

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

conforming to the rules of grammar or usage accepted by native speakers

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

at the time that

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

in or at the place that

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

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

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

which person or people

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

in the company of; together with

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

the basic unit of money in South Korea

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.

a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)

From this reading The house of grandma Ferguson, as she was now universally called, was the same low, old-fashioned brown building under the poplar trees where she had sold gingerbread and beer in the days when Paul Rossiter and Fred Hetherton came wooing her two daughters, Mary and Margaret.

a young person (especially a young man or boy)

From this reading In her youth grandma Ferguson had been a tall, slender, well-formed girl, with a face which always won a second glance from every one who saw it.