Chapter IX · AT “M’TILDY’s” BEDSIDE

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

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

in an absentminded or preoccupied manner

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

at or in the front

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

(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 This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

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

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

having life or vigor or spirit

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

nonfictional prose forming an independent part of a publication

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

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

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

in a blank and uncomprehending manner

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

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

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

past form of “consult” — get or ask advice from

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

past form of “doze” — sleep lightly or for a short period of time

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

well known or easily recognized

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

a social unit living together

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

furnishings that make a room or other area ready for occupancy

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

-ing form of “gaze” — look at with fixed eyes

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

an established custom

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

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

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

the male already mentioned, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

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

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

the quality of being important and worthy of note

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

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

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

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

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

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

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

in a mechanical manner; by a mechanism

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

and nothing more

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

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

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

the opening through which food is taken in and vocalizations emerge

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

not any; not one

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

out of fashion

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

garden consisting of a small cultivated wood without undergrowth

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

past form of “paper” — cover with paper

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

a course of conduct

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

plural of “pattern” — a perceptual structure

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

a tube with a small bowl at one end; used for smoking tobacco

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

showing regard for others in manners, speech, behavior, etc.

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

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

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

a principle or condition that customarily governs behavior

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

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

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

unhealthy looking

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

the act of smoking tobacco or other substances

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

a state of social isolation

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

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

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

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

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

not in physical motion

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

a kitchen appliance used for cooking food

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

successive (without a break)

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

a leisurely walk (usually in some public place)

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

reading carefully with intent to remember

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

an idea that is suggested

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

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

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

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

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

(used to introduce a logical conclusion) from that fact or reason or as a result

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

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

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

a source of difficulty

From this reading This was growing to be the rule; no one in the family now consulted him, or took the trouble to be polite to him.

not conscious; lacking awareness and the capacity for sensory perception as if asleep or dead

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

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

From this reading He sat thus in solitude for some time, blankly studying the grotesque patterns in the old-fashioned wall-paper, and drawing mechanically at the pipe in his mouth, unconscious that no smoke came.

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

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

at the time that

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

which person or people

From this reading He seemed to have become in his own house merely an article of animated furniture, of not much more importance than the rough-furred sickly old cat who dozed his life away back of the stove.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading Lemuel Fairchild sat still, smoking his wooden pipe, and looking absently, straight ahead, into the papered wall.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading This habit of gazing at nothing was familiar to them all, and when, at Isabel’s suggestion, the three young people started for a stroll through the orchard path, they left him entirely without ceremony.