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 It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

at or in the front

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

a mixture of gases (especially oxygen) required for breathing; the stuff that the wind consists of

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

(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 The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

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

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

United States author whose works were frequently autobiographical (1876-1941)

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

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

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

plural of “bough” — any of the larger branches of a tree

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

a youthful male person

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

befitting or characteristic of a young boy

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

a low-lying region in central France

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

make loud demands

From this reading There was a great clamor, too.

a point asserted as part of an argument

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

any of various trees of the genus Ulmus: important timber or shade trees

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

having ones attention or mind or energy engaged

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

containing as much or as many as is possible or normal

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

past form of “glance” — throw a glance at; take a brief look at

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading There was a great clamor, too.

any number of entities (members) considered as a unit

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

with indifference; in an indifferent manner

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

belonging to the thing or animal already mentioned

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

make a sound typical of metallic objects

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

and nothing more

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

a tight cluster of people or things

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

most important element

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

wood of any of various maple trees; especially the hard close-grained wood of the sugar maple; used especially for furniture and flooring

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

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

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

the middle of the day

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

plural of “preliminary” — a minor match preceding the main event

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

plural of “robin” — small Old World songbird with a reddish breast

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

cut with a saw

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

a thoroughfare (usually including sidewalks) that is lined with buildings

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was a great clamor, too.

the content of cognition; the main thing you are thinking about

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading There was a great clamor, too.

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

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.

characterized by unrest or disorder or insubordination

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

directly under, often hidden by what is above

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

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

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

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

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

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

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

in or at the place that

From this reading It was the next day that Randolph Anderson, on his way home at noon, saw ahead of him, just as he turned the corner from Main to Elm street, where his own house was, a knot of boys engaged in what he at first thought was a fight or its preliminaries.

which person or people

From this reading Anderson, as he came up, glanced indifferently at the turbulent group and saw one boy who seemed to be the centre of contention.

an instance of intense argument (as in bargaining)

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

a unit of length equal to 3 feet; defined as 91.44 centimeters; originally taken to be the average length of a stride

From this reading In the boughs of a maple in the near-by yard were two robins wrangling; underneath were the boys.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading The air was full of the sweet jangle of birds and boyish trebles, for all the boys were young.