Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

a record or narrative description of past events

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

later than; following

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

(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 They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

establish after a calculation, investigation, experiment, survey, or study

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

plural of “aspersion” — a disparaging remark

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

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

From this reading My father, the Reverend Ezra Quibble, was, to be sure, poor enough.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

brought into existence

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

put or send forth

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

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

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

of or relating to clerks

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

thrown away

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

a feeling of intense dislike

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

separated into parts or pieces

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

of or associated with a church (especially a Christian Church)

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading My father, the Reverend Ezra Quibble, was, to be sure, poor enough.

to the same degree (often followed by “as”)

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

the point or degree to which something extends

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

a Jewish priest and scribe sent by the Persian king to restore Jewish law and worship in Jerusalem

From this reading My father, the Reverend Ezra Quibble, was, to be sure, poor enough.

a social unit living together

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

to a considerable degree; very much

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading My father, the Reverend Ezra Quibble, was, to be sure, poor enough.

the month following January and preceding March

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

a boy or man

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

inflammation of the laminated tissue that attaches the hoof to the foot of a horse

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

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

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

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

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

in truth (often tends to intensify)

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

plural of “indian” — a native or inhabitant of India

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

poor enough to need help from others

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

incapable of being explained or accounted for

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

possessive form of “lady” — a polite name for any woman

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

a female domestic

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

-ing form of “marry” — take in marriage

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

a state in New England; one of the original 13 colonies

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

deficient in amount or quality or extent

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

plural of “memoir” — an account of the author's personal experiences

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

move about in a confused manner

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

used to form the superlative

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

-ing form of “necessitate” — require as useful, just, or proper

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

not any; not one

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

amounting to a large indefinite number

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

in other respects or ways

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

above and across; more than

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

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 Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

a traveler riding in a vehicle (a boat or bus or car or plane or train etc) who is not operating it

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

a person authorized to conduct religious worship

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

the immediate descendants of a person

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

evade the truth of a point or question by raising irrelevant objections

From this reading My father, the Reverend Ezra Quibble, was, to be sure, poor enough.

plural of “quibble” — an evasion of the point of an argument by raising irrelevant distinctions or objections

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

the properties acquired as a consequence of the way you were treated as a child

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

conforming to the established language usage of educated native speakers

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

a member of the clergy and a spiritual leader of the Christian Church

From this reading My father, the Reverend Ezra Quibble, was, to be sure, poor enough.

liquor distilled from fermented molasses

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

something that remunerates

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

1/60 of a minute; the basic unit of time adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

the exchange of goods for an agreed sum of money

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

established or decided beyond dispute or doubt

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

transport commercially

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

marked by correspondence or resemblance

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

-ing form of “state” — express in words

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

having or feeling no doubt or uncertainty; confident and assured

From this reading My father, the Reverend Ezra Quibble, was, to be sure, poor enough.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

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

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

an urban area with a fixed boundary that is smaller than a city

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

an administrative division of a county

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

the cardinal number that is the sum of nineteen and one

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

marked by dissimilarity

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

plural of “vestment” — gown (especially ceremonial garments) worn by the clergy

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

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

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.

(geology) the mechanical process of wearing or grinding something down (as by particles washing over it)

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

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

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

United States photographer(1886-1958)

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

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

From this reading The salary that he received as pastor of his church was meagre to the degree of necessitating my wearing his over-worn and discarded clerical vestments, which to some extent may account for my otherwise inexplicable distaste for things ecclesiastical.

which person or people

From this reading They were poor _and_ honest, as indeed, so far as I have been able to ascertain, have been all the Quibbles since the founder of the family came over on the good ship _Susan and Ellen_ in 1635, and, after marrying a lady's maid who had been his fellow passenger, settled in the township of Weston, built a mill, and divided his time equally between selling rum to the Indians and rearing a numerous progeny.

plural of “writer” — writes (books or stories or articles or the like) professionally (for pay)

From this reading Unlike most writers of similar memoirs, I shall cast no aspersions upon the indigent by stating that my parents were poor but honest.

a period of time containing 365 (or 366) days

From this reading I was born in the town in Lynn, Massachusetts, upon the twenty- second day of February, in the year 1855.