Chapter I

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

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

later than; following

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

(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 He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

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

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

a junior Girl Scout

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

pick out, select, or choose from a number of alternatives

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

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

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

a visual attribute of things that results from the light they emit or transmit or reflect

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

plural of “come” — the thick white fluid containing spermatozoa that is ejaculated by the male genital tract

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

plural of “corner” — a place off to the side of an area

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

an artistic form of nonverbal communication

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

plural of “dance” — an artistic form of nonverbal communication

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

absence of light or illumination

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

dressed or clothed especially in fine attire; often used in combination

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

(folklore) fairies that are somewhat mischievous

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

divisible by two

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

plural of “fairy” — a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

travel through the air; be airborne

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

characterized by unusual lightness and delicacy

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

(with “in”) guardianship over; in divorce cases it is the right to house and care for and discipline a child

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

plural of “hide” — the dressed skin of an animal (especially a large animal)

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

a social unit living together

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

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

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

and nothing more

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

a room equipped for preparing meals

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

has a good chance of being the case or of coming about

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

the light of the Moon

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

any of numerous small rodents typically resembling diminutive rats having pointed snouts and small ears on elongated bodies with slender usually hairless tails

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

a form of address for a man

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

no person; not anyone

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

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

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

on one occasion

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

and nothing more

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

somewhat ill or prone to illness

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

not affected by a chemical substance (especially alcohol)

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

a person who seldom goes anywhere; one not given to wandering or travel

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

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

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

in or at that place or location

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

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

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

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

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

the act of using

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

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

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

at the time that

From this reading And, like a mouse, he hides in corners--especially kitchen corners, and only comes out after dark when nobody is about, and so sometimes people call him Mr. Nobody.

in or at the place that

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

which person or people

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.

a means of flight or ascent

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He is a sober, stay-at-home, household elf--nothing much to look at, even if you did see him, which you are not likely to do--only a little old man, about a foot high, all dressed in brown, with a brown face and hands, and a brown peaked cap, just the color of a brown mouse.

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

From this reading He never dances; and as to wings, what use would they be to him in a coal-cellar?

but in spite of that

From this reading Now a coal-cellar may seem a most curious place to choose to live in; but then a Brownie is a curious creature--a fairy, and yet not one of that sort of fairies who fly about on gossamer wings, and dance in the moonlight, and so on.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading THERE was once a little Brownie, who lived--where do you think he lived? in a coal-cellar.