Chapter XVII · In Which Sweet William Tells Another Story

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 lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

any person at all

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

for the reason that

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

marked by strong resentment or cynicism

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

the two together, not just one

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

a young person of either sex

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

past form of “christen” — administer baptism to

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

your usual mood

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

a swinging or sliding barrier that will close the entrance to a room or building or vehicle

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

undergo an emotional sensation or be in a particular state of mind

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

a child who has been abandoned and whose parents are unknown

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

ice crystals forming a white deposit (especially on objects outside)

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

acknowledged as a supposition

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

belonging to a woman, girl, or female animal already mentioned

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

used when the woman or girl doing the action is also its object

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

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

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

a small worthless amount

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

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

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

having or proceeding from an innately kind disposition

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

set down according to a plan

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

happening at a time subsequent to a reference time

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

move about in a confused manner

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

United States bandleader of a popular big band (1909-1944)

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

the most common medium of exchange; functions as legal tender

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

in such a manner as could not be otherwise

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

on one occasion

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

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

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

a feeling of sympathy and sorrow for the misfortunes of others

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

being or occurring in fact or actuality; having verified existence; not illusory

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

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

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

continually complaining or faultfinding

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

retarded in intellectual development

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

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

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She was not kind to little Jack Frost, and made him feel that he was a burden both to her husband and herself.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

in or at that place or location

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

for that reason; as a result

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

a more or less definite period of time now or previously present

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

the act of using

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

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

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

(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 Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

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

From this reading Times were hard, she said, and he was too slow-witted to be of any real use about the mill.

which person or people

From this reading Once upon a time there lived a miller, who because he was a kind-hearted man and as well off as anyone needs to be, had taken pity upon a poor little foundling and had given him a home in the mill.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

possessive form of “winter” — the coldest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the winter solstice to the vernal equinox

From this reading On a bitter winter’s night the child had been laid at his door, and the miller therefore christened him Jack Frost.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

a late time of life

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.

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

From this reading Some years later the miller took a wife, a young woman of a shrewish disposition and over-fond of money.