Chapter II · The Story of the Brass Check

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

any specific behavior

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

goddess of criminal rashness and its punishment

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

the power or right to give orders or make decisions

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

a line of approach

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

past form of “believe” — accept as true; take to be true

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

a youthful male person

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

touched lightly in passing; grazed against

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

past form of “butter” — spread butter on

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

taking care or paying attention

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

clothing in general

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

a felt hat that is round and hard with a narrow brim

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

a quantity of liquor equal to one fifth of a United States gallon

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

cutlery used for serving and eating food

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

plural of “glove” — the handwear used by fielders in playing baseball

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

headdress that protects the head from bad weather; has shaped crown and usually a brim

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

of great significance or value

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

tell false information to for fun

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

apprehended with certainty

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

the superlative of “little” that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by “the”; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

found pleasant or attractive; often used as a combining form

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

social deportment

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

plural of “morning” — the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

used to form the superlative

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

past form of “obey” — be obedient to

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

on one occasion

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

a set of two similar things considered as a unit

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

plural of “parent” — a father or mother; one who begets or one who gives birth to or nurtures and raises a child; a relative who plays the role of guardian

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

plural of “pea” — seed of a pea plant used for food

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

past form of “shine” — be bright by reflecting or casting light

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

a particular situation

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

a share of something

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

produced or marked by conscious design or premeditation

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

plural of “teacher” — a person whose occupation is teaching

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

the plural of “that”: the people or things further away, or already known

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

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

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

closely constrained or constricted or constricting

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

plural of “tradition” — an inherited pattern of thought or action

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

past form of “walk” — use one's feet to advance; advance by steps

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

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

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading On week-days he studied hard and obeyed his teachers, and in every field of thought and activity he believed what was told him by those in authority.

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

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

the form of “who” used as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading On Sunday mornings he carefully shined his shoes and brushed his clothes at the window, and got into a pair of tight kid gloves and under a tight little brown derby hat, and walked with his parents to a church on Fifth Avenue.

in the company of; together with

From this reading He obeyed his mother and father, and ate his peas with a fork, and never buttered the whole slice of his bread.

everything that exists anywhere

From this reading He had been brought up in the traditions of the old South, to which the two most important things in the world were good cooking and good manners.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading Once upon a time there was a little boy; a nice little boy, whom you would have liked if you had known him—at least, so his mother says.