Chapter VI · Chapter 6

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

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

(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 Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

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

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

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

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

in addition to; as well as

From this reading Besides these there was a colossal menagerie.

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

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

being of the achromatic color of maximum darkness; having little or no hue owing to absorption of almost all incident light

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

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

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

an orange of low brightness and saturation

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

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

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

a heavy, closely woven fabric (used for clothing or chairs or sails or tents)

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “caravan” — a procession (of wagons or mules or camels) traveling together in single file

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

a travelling company of entertainers; including trained animals

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

so great in size or force or extent as to elicit awe

From this reading Besides these there was a colossal menagerie.

plural of “costume” — the attire worn in a play or at a fancy dress ball

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

From this reading All the most curious specimens were represented.

so badly formed or out of shape as to be ugly

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

being or moving lower in position or less in some value

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

a site where people on holiday can pitch a tent

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

the act of enclosing something inside something else

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

all the members of a group, with none left out

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

having an (over)abundance of flesh

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

plural of “feather” — the light horny waterproof structure forming the external covering of birds

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

the dressed hairy coat of a mammal

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

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

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “house” — a dwelling that serves as living quarters for one or more families

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

unusually great in size or amount or degree or especially extent or scope

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

form a mental image of something that is not present or that is not the case

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

incapable of being passed

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

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

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

someone who doesn't understand what is going on

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

the land on which real estate is located

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

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

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

the force of workers available

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

a collection of live animals for study or display

From this reading Besides these there was a colossal menagerie.

used to form the superlative

From this reading All the most curious specimens were represented.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

belonging to the speaker and others

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

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

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “pole” — a long (usually round) rod of wood or metal or plastic

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

represented accurately or precisely

From this reading All the most curious specimens were represented.

plural of “section” — a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

an instance of visual perception

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

term of address for a man

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

the physical magnitude of something (how big it is)

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

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

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “sort” — a category of things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “specimen” — an example regarded as typical of its class

From this reading All the most curious specimens were represented.

dependable

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “street” — a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

be agreeable or acceptable to

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

great in vertical dimension; high in stature

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

To perceive flavor through the mouth.

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

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

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Besides these there was a colossal menagerie.

Having little thickness or extent.

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

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

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

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

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “traveller” — a person who changes location

From this reading SIR BOOUM'S CIRCUS Our travellers came in sight of the circus.

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

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

close enough to be walked to

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

plural of “wall” — an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

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

From this reading Besides these there was a colossal menagerie.

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

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.

plural of “wheel” — a simple machine consisting of a circular frame with spokes (or a solid disc) that can rotate on a shaft or axle (as in vehicles or other machines)

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Imagine, children, a huge encampment like a small town,--with sections, and streets, houses of green canvas on stout poles, tall caravans on wheels enclosing everything as though with impassable walls, and in the centre all sorts of people, in all sorts of costumes, walking up and down.

of the color intermediate between green and orange in the color spectrum; of something resembling the color of an egg yolk

From this reading There were brown men, yellow men, red men, black men, big men, little men, thin men, fat men, lame men, deformed men, men with goitres, men covered with feathers, men covered with fur,--in fact, men of every possible kind, size, and land,--men to suit every possible taste.