Chapter I

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 very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

later than; following

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

in the past

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

(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 She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

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

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

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

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

next to; at the side of

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

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

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

a youthful male person

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

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

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

an edible emulsion of fat globules made by churning milk or cream; for cooking and table use

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

past form of “call” — assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

a tight-fitting headdress

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

grass whose starchy grains are used as food: wheat; rice; rye; oats; maize; buckwheat; millet

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

travel across or pass over

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading He was so poor that he did not even have a name.

a ladle that has a cup with a long handle

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

divisible by two

From this reading He was so poor that he did not even have a name.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

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

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

destroyed or killed

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

an aunt of your father or mother

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading He was so poor that he did not even have a name.

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

From this reading He was so poor that he did not even have a name.

the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

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

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

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

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

and nothing more

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

used to make a suggestion or a command including the speaker

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

engage in

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

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 His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

plural of “mistake” — a wrong action attributable to bad judgment or ignorance or inattention

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading He was so poor that he did not even have a name.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

not any; not one

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading He was so poor that he did not even have a name.

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

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

on one occasion

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

a fractional monetary unit of Ireland and the United Kingdom; equal to one hundredth of a pound

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

(plural) any group of human beings (men or women or children) collectively

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

a small pouch inside a garment for carrying small articles

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

with considerable certainty; without much doubt

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

past form of “return” — go or come back to place, condition, or activity where one has been before

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

Identical; not different.

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

an educational institution

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

transport commercially

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

a particular situation

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

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

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading He was so poor that he did not even have a name.

deeply or completely

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

past form of “spank” — give a spanking to; subject to a spanking

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

rigidly accurate; allowing no deviation from a standard

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

a white crystalline carbohydrate used as a sweetener and preservative

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

definitely or positively (“sure” is sometimes used informally for “surely”)

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was so poor that he did not even have a name.

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

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

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

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

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

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.

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

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

precisely as stated

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

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 very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

which person or people

From this reading Once upon a time there was a very poor boy, who had no cap on his head, no shoes on his feet, and never a penny in his pocket.

in the company of; together with

From this reading So the boy had gone to live in a small, dark house beside the sea, with his great-aunt, who was very old and cross and strict.

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

From this reading She did not let him have any sugar on his cereal or butter on his bread, and every day after school she spanked him soundly for all the mistakes he had made that day, and if he had not made any she spanked him just the same for all those he would probably make to-morrow, or the next day, or the next.

a late time of life

From this reading His father had gone to sea many years ago in a ship called The Big Dipper, and as he had never returned, people said surely he must be dead.