Chapter XVIII · Chapter 18

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

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

tending to become more severe or wider in scope

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

anew

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

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

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

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

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

the event consisting of the start of something

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

at or toward the back of something

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

of surpassing excellence

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

plural of “bubble” — a hollow globule of gas (e.g., air or carbon dioxide)

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

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

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

feline mammal usually having thick soft fur and no ability to roar: domestic cats; wildcats

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

definite but not specified or identified

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

plural of “chimney” — a vertical flue that provides a path through which smoke from a fire is carried away through the wall or roof of a building

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

past form of “circle” — travel around something

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

clearly or sharply defined to the mind

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

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

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

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

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

an assembly (including one or more judges) to conduct judicial business

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

an illustration that is drawn by hand and published in a book, magazine, or newspaper

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

the 3rd planet from the sun; the planet we live on

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

enclosed firmly in a surrounding mass

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

plural of “gable” — the vertical triangular wall between the sloping ends of gable roof

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

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

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

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

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

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

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

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

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

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

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

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

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

plural of “log” — a segment of the trunk of a tree when stripped of branches

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

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

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

move in loops

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

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

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

an area that is approximately central within some larger region

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

resembling milk in color; not clear

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

the natural satellite of the Earth

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

the light of the Moon

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

an instance of becoming narrow

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

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

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

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

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

plural of “orbit” — the (usually elliptical) path described by one celestial body in its revolution about another

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

covered with a firm surface

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

past form of “pour” — cause to run

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

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

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

-ing form of “reverse” — change to the contrary

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

characteristic of rural life

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

the work of a sailor

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

A dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

plural of “shadow” — shade within clear boundaries

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

plural of “side” — a place within a region identified relative to a center or reference location

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

without speed (“slow” is sometimes used informally for “slowly”)

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

predatory arachnid with eight legs, two poison fangs, two feelers, and usually two silk-spinning organs at the back end of the body; they spin silk to make cocoons for eggs or traps for prey

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

sit on one's heels

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

Maintained an upright posture.

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

-ing form of “stroll” — walk leisurely and with no apparent aim

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

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

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

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

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

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

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

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

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

up to a particular time

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

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

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

the upper part of anything

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

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

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

creating fabric

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

an intricate network suggesting something that was formed by weaving or interweaving

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

(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 In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

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

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

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

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

the quality or state of the achromatic color of greatest lightness (bearing the least resemblance to black)

From this reading It was a night of full moon, sailing high, which poured whiteness into the court, making its cobbles embedded in the earth look like milky bubbles and drawing clear-cut shadows of the well-top and the gables and chimneys of the house.

an increase in width

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

marked by extreme lack of restraint or control

From this reading A WILD CAT The Lazy-Y ranch-house, a one-storied building of logs, was built about three sides of a paved court.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading His wife, looking out at him through one of the windows, thought that, in the moonlight, followed by his own squat, active shadow, he looked like a huge spider weaving a web.

in the company of; together with

From this reading In the middle of this court stood a well with a high rustic top, and about this well on a certain brilliant July night, a tall man was strolling with his hands behind his back.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading The man slowly circled the court beginning close to the walls and narrowing till he made a loop about the well, and then, reversing, worked in widening orbits as far as the walls again.