Chapter II

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

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

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

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

completely unclothed

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

inflected form of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

next to; at the side of

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

expletives used informally as intensifiers

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

of surpassing excellence

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

a structure that has a roof and walls and stands more or less permanently in one place

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

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

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

at or within a short distance in space or time or having elements near each other

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

not open or affording passage or access

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

in a close relation or position in time or space

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

having or capable of producing colors

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

a politically organized body of people under a single government

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

(United Kingdom) a region created by territorial division for the purpose of local government

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

plural of “critter” — a regional term for “creature” (especially for domestic animals)

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

cause to herd, drive, or crowd together

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

plural of “crow” — black birds having a raucous call

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

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

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

past form of “descend” — move downward and lower, but not necessarily all the way

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

an effort that is inconvenient

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

sloping down rather steeply

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

remove the dust from

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

coming to maturity

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

a plant consisting of one or more buildings with facilities for manufacturing

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

brought together in one place

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

the act of departing

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

in a gradual manner

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

plural of “group” — any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

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

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

not solid; having a space or gap or cavity

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

the quality of being humane

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

ten 10s

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

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

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

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

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

in a slow and lazy manner

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

go away from a place

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

the action of people mingling and coming into contact

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

plural of “negro” — a person with African ancestry, "Negro" and "Negroid" are archaic and pejorative today

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

very recently

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

the region of the United States lying to the north of the Mason-Dixon line

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

being directly across from each other; facing

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

coated with paint

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

in the near future

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

past form of “push” — move with force

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

the process of showing signs of life

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

line that is the commercial organization responsible for operating a system of transportation for trains that pull passengers or freight

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

inflected form of “run” — move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

past form of “remark” — make mention of

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

joint consisting of a line formed by joining two pieces

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

plural of “smell” — the sensation that results when olfactory receptors in the nose are stimulated by particular chemicals in gaseous form

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

a cloud of fine particles suspended in a gas

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

the state of being covered with unclean things

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."

a very small spot

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

successive (without a break)

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

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

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

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

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

leaves of the tobacco plant dried and prepared for smoking or ingestion

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

a line or route along which something travels or moves

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

create by training and teaching

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

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

From this reading The air was heavy with hot, close smells--a mingling of smoke, tobacco, dust and humanity.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

in or at the place that

From this reading THE NIGHT The scattered houses closed together in groups, the road descended gradually into a hollow, and emerging on the opposite side, became a street, and the street slouched lazily downhill to where a railroad track ran straight as a seam across the bare country.

a Caucasian

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

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

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading Quickening his steps, Ordway came presently to the station--a small wooden building newly painted a brilliant yellow--and pushed his way with difficulty through a crowd of Negroes that had gathered closely beside the waiting train.

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

From this reading "Thar's a good three hundred of the critters going to a factory in the North," remarked a man behind him, "an' yit they don't leave more'n a speck of white in the county.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Between the crows an' the darkies I'll be blamed if you can see the colour of the soil."