Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

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

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

a male singer

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

the lowest part of the musical range

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

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

From this reading A small kindliness seems often to be watered and fertilized by magic.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

a team of professional baseball players who play and travel together

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

lacking in light; not bright or harsh

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

past form of “fertilize” — provide with fertilizers or add nutrients to

From this reading A small kindliness seems often to be watered and fertilized by magic.

set up or found

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

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

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

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

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

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

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

a form of whist in which players avoid winning tricks containing hearts or the queen of spades

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

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

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

a period of time assigned for work

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

a small worthless amount

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

“Johnny” was applied as a nickname for Confederate soldiers by the Federal soldiers in the American Civil War; “greyback” derived from their grey Confederate uniforms

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

(especially of promises or contracts) not violated or disregarded

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

friendliness evidence by a kindly and helpful disposition

From this reading A small kindliness seems often to be watered and fertilized by magic.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

appealing to the emotions as well as the eye

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

any art that invokes supernatural powers

From this reading A small kindliness seems often to be watered and fertilized by magic.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

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

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

come together

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

the force of workers available

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

not divisible by two

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

many times at short intervals

From this reading A small kindliness seems often to be watered and fertilized by magic.

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

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

above and across; more than

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

designed or carried out according to a plan

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

to a degree (not used with a negative)

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

uttered with a trill

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

plural of “saloon” — a room or establishment where alcoholic drinks are served over a counter

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

North American woodland herb similar to and used as substitute for the Chinese ginseng

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

past form of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

third-person singular of “seem” — give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading A small kindliness seems often to be watered and fertilized by magic.

used to say what is right, expected, or advisable

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

having few parts; not complex or complicated or involved

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

the act of singing vocal music

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

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

From this reading A small kindliness seems often to be watered and fertilized by magic.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

in the near future

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

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

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

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

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

the cardinal number that is the product of 10 and 100

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

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

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

plural of “tunnel” — a passageway through or under something, usually underground (especially one for trains or cars)

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

plural of “voice” — the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

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

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

(of silk fabric) having a wavelike pattern

From this reading A small kindliness seems often to be watered and fertilized by magic.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading By the old road of music he had found his way to the hearts of many.

(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 There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

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

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

at the time that

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

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

From this reading Soon it was a club--then a big club; it kept men out of saloons, which Johnny was glad of, but had not planned.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading He heard Dennis Mulligan's lovely baritone and Jack Dennison's rolling bass, as they sang at work in the dim tunnels of the coal-mine, and it seemed quite simple to him that they and he and others should meet when work hours were over and do some singing.

plural of “workman” — an employee who performs manual or industrial labor

From this reading There were good voices among the thousand odd workmen, and Johnny McLean could not well live without music.