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 During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

A place of study or training in a special field of knowledge and arts.

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

past form of “assemble” — create by putting components or members together

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

the season when the leaves fall from the trees

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

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

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

a mountain or tall hill

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

The red fluid that circulates in the heart and blood vessels.

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

a youthful male person

From this reading THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PITCH.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

an officer holding a rank below a major but above a lieutenant

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

serving as an essential component

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

having a cheerful, lively, and self-confident air

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

European freshwater game fish with a thick spindle-shaped body

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

United States industrialist who built the first American locomotive; founded Cooper Union in New York City to offer free courses in the arts and sciences (1791-1883)

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

stretch (the neck) so as to see better

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

free from liquid or moisture; lacking natural or normal moisture or depleted of water; or no longer wet

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

being one more than ten

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

British poet (born in the United States) who won the Nobel prize for literature; his plays are outstanding examples of modern verse drama (1888-1965)

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

plural of “fellow” — a boy or man

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

mat together and make felt-like

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

a diagram or picture illustrating textual material

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

having or given a form or shape

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

a contest with rules to determine a winner

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

anything that provides inspiration for later work

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

death of a person

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

the (prehensile) extremity of the superior limb

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

United States general in the Union Army who was defeated at Chancellorsville by Robert E. Lee (1814-1879)

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

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

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

the act of suspending activity temporarily

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

engage in

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

the cardinal number that is the sum of eight and one

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

the middle of the day

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

an open or empty space in or between things

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

someone who plays the bagpipe

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

the property of sound that varies with variation in the frequency of vibration

From this reading THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PITCH.

a customary way of operation or behavior

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

just preceding something else in time or order

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

strongly marked; easily noticeable

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

worthy of reliance or trust

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

something left after other parts have been taken away

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

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

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

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

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

past form of “score” — gain points in a game

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

a period of the year marked by special events or activities in some field

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

a detective who follows a trail

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

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

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

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

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

an event that accomplishes its intended purpose

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Roger Eliot, the grave, reliable, steady-headed captain of the nine, who had scored such a pronounced success as captain of the eleven the previous autumn, was the central figure of that gathering.

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

From this reading THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PITCH.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

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

From this reading THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PITCH.

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

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

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

From this reading Chipper Cooper, Ben Stone, Sleuth Piper, Chub Tuttle, Sile Crane and Roy Hooker formed the remainder of the assemblage.

desired or wished for or sought

From this reading THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PITCH.

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

From this reading During the noon intermission of a sunny April day a small group of boys assembled near the steps of Oakdale Academy to talk baseball; for the opening of the season was at hand, and the germ of the game had already begun to make itself felt in their blood.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

which person or people

From this reading THE BOY WHO WANTED TO PITCH.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.

in the company of; together with

From this reading "The field will be good and dry to-night, fellows," said Roger, "and we ought to get in some much-needed practice for that game with Barville.