Chapter X

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

later than; following

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

anew

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

(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 But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

Having no one else present.

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

a grain of barley

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

plural of “beak” — beaklike mouth of animals other than birds (e.g., turtles)

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

the line or plane indicating the limit or extent of something

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

a formal event performed on a special occasion

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

small European finch with a cheerful song

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading Yours in haste, and a friend if possible, CHANTICLEER.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

past form of “conduct” — direct the course of; manage or control

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

continue a certain state, condition, or activity

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

every day; without missing a day

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

the quality of conforming to standards of propriety and morality

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

the feeling of being displeased or annoyed or dissatisfied with someone or something

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

all through a period, or at some point within it

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

take in solid food

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

a social unit living together

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

an area adjacent to farm buildings

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

come upon, as if by accident; meet with

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

a person you know well and regard with affection and trust

From this reading Yours in haste, and a friend if possible, CHANTICLEER.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

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

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

overly eager speed (and possible carelessness)

From this reading Yours in haste, and a friend if possible, CHANTICLEER.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

plural of “hedge” — a fence formed by a row of closely planted shrubs or bushes

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

in the recent past

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

engage in

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

social deportment

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

used when the speaker is also the object of the action

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

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

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

many times at short intervals

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

used with “to” to say what is right or advisable

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

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

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

inflected form of “overstep” — pass beyond (limits or boundaries)

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

a thin strip of covered cord used to edge hems

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading Yours in haste, and a friend if possible, CHANTICLEER.

a customary way of operation or behavior

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

plural of “run” — a score in baseball made by a runner touching all four bases safely

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

meet the requirements or expectations of

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

express in words

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

a large number or amount

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

used with I and we for the future, or to offer and suggest

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

on certain occasions or in certain cases but not always

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

in the near future

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

the season of growth

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

not in physical motion

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

the activity of providing for or maintaining by supplying with money or necessities

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

express a supposition

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

taken unawares or suddenly and feeling wonder or astonishment

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

except if; if not

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

any venturesome undertaking especially one with an uncertain outcome

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

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

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

the vertical force exerted by a mass as a result of gravity

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

at the time that

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

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

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

which person or people

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

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

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

inside; before a period of time has passed

From this reading I suppose when the spring comes again, and you find more to satisfy you outside a farmyard than within, you will be off to the hedges again.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

plural of “wife” — a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading I shall let you alone, unless the barley runs short, which is to support my wives and children; when if you still venture to continue your pilferings, you must not be surprised should some of you feel the weight of my displeasure.

the act of creating written works

From this reading I must go after my family, who are all out of my sight, since I have been writing this.

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading But this I cannot say lately; for it is quite overstepping the bounds of decency and good manners when you and your brother pilferers, now the winter is come, make it your daily practice to come by scores, as you do, into our yard, and, without any ceremony, eat up all the barley you can lay your beaks to.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.

the one or ones belonging to the person spoken to

From this reading Yours in haste, and a friend if possible, CHANTICLEER.

used when the person spoken to is also the object of the action

From this reading _FROM THE DUNGHILL-COCK TO THE CHAFFINCH._ I have often, during the spring and summer, heard you of a morning piping away in the hedges, sometimes as soon as I was up myself, and thought your singing pretty fair, and that you conducted yourself as you ought to do.