Chapter III

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

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

(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 I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

a garment of cloth or leather or plastic that is tied about the waist and worn to protect your clothing

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

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

From this reading I never ast her why she didn’t sen’ for our own preacher.

a central cohesive source of support and stability

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

support and strengthen

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

the form of “do” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

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

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

join tongue and groove, in carpentry

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

a conspicuous disparity or difference as between two figures

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

brought together in one place

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

a person who is deemed to be despicable or contemptible

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

the form of “have” used with he, she, it, or a singular noun

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

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

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

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

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

past form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

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

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

an indefinitely short time

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

inflected form of “mop” — to wash or wipe with or as if with a mop

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

a common nonmetallic element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless inert diatomic gas; constitutes 78 percent of the atmosphere by volume; a constituent of all living tissues

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading I never ast her why she didn’t sen’ for our own preacher.

not any; not one

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading I never ast her why she didn’t sen’ for our own preacher.

above and across; more than

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading I never ast her why she didn’t sen’ for our own preacher.

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

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

someone whose occupation is preaching the gospel

From this reading I never ast her why she didn’t sen’ for our own preacher.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

a fractional monetary unit of Japan and Indonesia and Cambodia; equal to one hundredth of a yen or rupiah or riel

From this reading I never ast her why she didn’t sen’ for our own preacher.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

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

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

term of address for a man

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

ready to fall asleep

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

a male child (a familiar term of address to a boy)

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

anesthesia of the lower half of the body; caused by injury to the spinal cord or by injecting an anesthetic beneath the arachnoid membrane that surrounds the spinal cord

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

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

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

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

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

past form of “tickle” — touch (a body part) lightly so as to excite the surface nerves and cause uneasiness, laughter, or spasmodic movements

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

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

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

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

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

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

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.

wanting in physical strength

From this reading An’ ez for me, I didn’t seem to have no mo’ backbone down my spinal colume ‘n a feather bolster has, I was that weak.

(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 I knowed then ez well ez ef she’d ’a’ told me why she done it—all on account o’ Sonny bein’ so tickled over the ‘Piscopals’ meetin’s.

at the time that

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

the cause or intention underlying an action or situation, especially in the phrase “the whys and wherefores”

From this reading I never ast her why she didn’t sen’ for our own preacher.

having great (or a certain) extent from one side to the other

From this reading “Seems to me,” says she, “when he started to git sleepy, he didn’t gap ez wide ez he gen’ly does—an’ I’m ’feered he’s a-gittin’ it now.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading An’, sir, with that, she thess gathered up her apron an’ mopped her face in it an’ give way.