Chapter IX · Chapter 9

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

later than; following

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

the part of the day between noon and evening

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

pleasantly occupied

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

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

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading Jonas set one on fire, and then he told Rollo that he might set another on fire.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

a natural stream of water smaller than a river (and often a tributary of a river)

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

the act of burning something

From this reading BURNING.

plural of “bush” — a low woody perennial plant usually having several major stems

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

damaged by decay; hence unsound and useless

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

having your services engaged for; or having a job especially one that pays wages or a salary

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

start firing a weapon

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

plural of “fire” — the event of something burning (often destructive)

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

set up or found

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

destroyed or killed

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

a collection of objects laid on top of each other

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

a large number or amount

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

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

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

the boundary line or the area immediately inside the boundary

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading Jonas set one on fire, and then he told Rollo that he might set another on fire.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

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

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

past form of “pile” — arrange in stacks

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

experiencing or manifesting pleasure

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

hitting a golf ball that is on the green using a putter

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

the condition of belonging to a particular place or group by virtue of social or ethnic or cultural lineage

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

occurring or distributed over widely spaced and irregular intervals in time or space

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

precipitation falling from clouds in the form of ice crystals

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

plural of “stick” — an implement consisting of a length of wood

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

plural of “stump” — the base part of a tree that remains standing after the tree has been felled

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

comparative of “tall” — great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Jonas set one on fire, and then he told Rollo that he might set another on fire.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Jonas set one on fire, and then he told Rollo that he might set another on fire.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

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

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Jonas set one on fire, and then he told Rollo that he might set another on fire.

being or moving higher in position or greater in some value; being above a former position or level

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

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

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading After the snow had all gone off, and the ground was dry, Jonas piled up a heap of stumps, roots, and decayed logs, in a field, not far from the brook, and one sunny afternoon he and Rollo went down to set the heaps on fire.

during the time that

From this reading After this, Jonas employed himself in gathering up sticks, bushes, roots, and other such things that lay scattered about the field, and putting them upon the fires, while Rollo amused himself in any way he pleased.

the hard fibrous lignified substance under the bark of trees

From this reading After a time, Rollo found, on the margin of the field, near the edge of a wood, an old stump, taller than he was, much decayed.