Chapter XXVIII · The Autocrat of the Bee-Garden

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

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

touching and pressing; in opposition to

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

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

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

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

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

one more of the same kind, or a different one

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

plural of “bee” — any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

Directly under; in or to a lower position than.

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

make a strident sound

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

a strong flame that burns brightly

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

processing that involves blowing a gas

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

providing or experiencing physical well-being or relief (“comfy” is informal)

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

a small house with a single story

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

bend one's back forward from the waist on down

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

overfilled or compacted or concentrated

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

absence of light or illumination

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

the usage or vocabulary that is characteristic of a specific group of people

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

United States actor (born in Ireland); father of Georgiana Emma Barrymore (1827-1862)

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

a group of animals (a herd or flock) moving together

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

start firing a weapon

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

of an achromatic color of any lightness intermediate between the extremes of white and black

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

plural of “gun” — a weapon that discharges a missile at high velocity (especially from a metal tube or barrel)

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

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

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

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

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

deeply or markedly affected or influenced

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

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

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

a failure to maintain a higher state

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

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

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

hear with intention

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

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

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

by chance

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

a particular point in time

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

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

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

used to form the superlative

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

(comparative of “near” or “close”) within a shorter distance

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

a brief written record

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

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 “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

the hard durable wood of any oak; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

the text appearing in a book, newspaper, or other printed publication

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

strange in an interesting or pleasing way

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

precisely, exactly

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

a charge of ammunition for a single shot

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

a word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

settle into a position, usually on a surface or ground

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

Plural of shelf; the vast wooden or stone structures holding archives.

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

a particular situation

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

shake, as from cold

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

without speaking

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

convulsive gasp made while weeping

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

in some unspecified way or manner; or by some unspecified means

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

(of a nose) blocked

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

a county in southern England on the English Channel; formerly an Anglo-Saxon kingdom that was captured by Wessex in the 9th century

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

tasting sour like a lemon

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

express in words

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

the subject matter of a conversation or discussion

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

timid by nature or revealing timidity

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

plural of “ti” — a light strong grey lustrous corrosion-resistant metallic element used in strong lightweight alloys (as for airplane parts); the main sources are rutile and ilmenite

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

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

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

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

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

the act of observing; taking a patient look

From this reading The bee-master drew the old oak settle nearer to the fire, and sat for a moment silently watching the comfortable blaze.

(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 “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

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

From this reading “‘True as print,’” he went on, lapsing more and more into the quaint, tangy Sussex dialect, as his theme impressed him; “’twas an old saying o’ my father’s; and right enough, maybe, in his time.

at the time that

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

air moving (sometimes with considerable force) from an area of high pressure to an area of low pressure

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading He stopped to listen to the wind, blowing great guns outside in the winter darkness.

in the company of; together with

From this reading The little cottage seemed to crouch and shudder beneath the blast, and the rain drove against the lattice-windows with a sobbing, timorous note.

plural of “wreath” — flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”

an old word for “you”, speaking to more than one person

From this reading “BOOKS,” said the Bee-Master of Warrilow, looking round through grey wreaths of tobacco-smoke at his crowded shelves, “books seem to tell ye most things ne’ersome-matter; but when it comes to books on bees—well, ’tis somehow quite another pair o’ shoes.”