Chapter VIII · Chapter 8

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

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

later than; following

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

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

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

make a request or demand for something to somebody

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

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

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

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

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

the -ing form of “be”

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

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

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

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

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

the state of being employed or having a job

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

considered likely or probable to happen or arrive

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

floor consisting of open space at the top of a house just below roof; often used for storage

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

greater in size or importance or degree

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

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

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

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

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

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

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

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

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

reduce or cause to be reduced from a solid to a liquid state, usually by heating

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

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

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

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

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

as might be expected

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

participate in games or sport

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

plural of “resource” — available source of wealth; a new or reserve supply that can be drawn upon when needed

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

Norse chieftain who became the first duke of Normandy (860-931)

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

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

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

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

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

get rid of

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

the season of growth

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

behave violently, as if in state of a great anger

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

plural of “task” — any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading TASKS.

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

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

in or at that place or location

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

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

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading A few days after this, there commenced a long storm of rain.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

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

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

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

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

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

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

(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 The first day, they amused themselves pretty well, during their play hours, in the shed and in the garret; but on the second day, they began to be tired.

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

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading Nathan came two or three times to his mother, to ask her what he should do; and Rollo himself, though, being older, his resources might naturally be expected to be greater, seemed to be out of employment.

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

From this reading Rollo and Nathan were glad to see it on one account, for their mother told them it would melt away the snow, and bring on the spring.