Chapter XIII

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

(Greek mythology) the king who lead the Greeks against Troy in the Trojan War

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

possessive form of “agamemnon” — (Greek mythology) the king who lead the Greeks against Troy in the Trojan War

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

a ghostly appearing figure

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

exceptionally bad or displeasing

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

possessive form of “bird” — warm-blooded egg-laying vertebrates characterized by feathers and forelimbs modified as wings

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading “But he’s the pluckiest!

plural of “chicken” — the flesh of a chicken used for food

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

provide with a covering or cause to be covered

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

a regional term for “creature” (especially for domestic animals)

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

at any time

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

enclose with a fence

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

plural of “gal” — United States liquid unit equal to 4 quarts or 3.785 liters

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

plural of “girl” — a young female

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

(astronomy) the angular distance of a celestial point measured westward along the celestial equator from the zenith crossing; the right ascension for an observer at a particular location and time of day

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

emerged from an egg

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

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

From this reading “But he’s the pluckiest!

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

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

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

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

characteristic of humanity

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

a field of cultivated and mowed grass

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

a woman of refinement

From this reading Yes, ma’am!

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

used to form the superlative

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

the state of being without clothing or covering of any kind

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

and nothing more

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

past form of “pick” — select carefully from a group

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

a day devoted to an outdoor social gathering

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

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

From this reading “But he’s the pluckiest!

raise the level or amount of something

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

precisely, exactly

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

adult male chicken

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

exhibiting childlike simplicity and credulity

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

past form of “scratch” — cause friction

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

ammunition consisting of a cylindrical metal casing containing an explosive charge and a projectile; fired from a large gun

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

a tetravalent nonmetallic element; next to oxygen it is the most abundant element in the earth's crust; occurs in clay and feldspar and granite and quartz and sand; used as a semiconductor in transistors

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

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

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading “The other chickens never would let him raise a pin-feather ter cover his nakedness; they picked on him suthin’ _awful_.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

very small

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

having or bringing misfortune

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

at the time that

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

in or at the place that

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

in the company of; together with

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.

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

From this reading He was only a pindling critter when he pipped the shell, an’ the vi-cis-_si_-tudes that bird’s been through since he fust scratched would ha’ made a human lay right down and die.

an affirmative

From this reading Yes, ma’am!

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading A PICNIC WITH AGAMEMNON “You see, gals, Agamemnon’s been the most unlucky bird that ever was hatched,” said the little old woman, coming across the tiny lawn to the fence where the Corner House girls were staring, round-eyed, at the strange apparition of a rooster in a red-flannel sleeping-suit.