Chapter XII · Chapter 12

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

anew

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

in the past

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

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

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

earlier than; in front of

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

inflected form of “begin” — take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

at or to a lower level than something

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

plural of “berry” — any of numerous small and pulpy edible fruits; used as desserts or in making jams and jellies and preserves

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

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

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

one of the groups of Christians who have their own beliefs and forms of worship

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

plural of “ear” — the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

the latter part of the day (the period of decreasing daylight from late afternoon until nightfall)

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading HER FATHER'S SECRET.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

about to be mentioned or specified

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

the side that is forward or prominent

From this reading She was helping to make a sickle to hang in front of the pulpit.

a movable barrier in a fence or wall

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

a group of persons together in one place

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

shoot down, of birds

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

be suspended or hanging

From this reading She was helping to make a sickle to hang in front of the pulpit.

the yield from plants in a single growing season

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

occupied or in the control of; often used in combination

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

an individual quantity of food or drink taken as part of a meal

From this reading She was helping to make a sickle to hang in front of the pulpit.

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

From this reading HER FATHER'S SECRET.

with hesitation; in a hesitant manner

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

greater than normal in degree or intensity or amount

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

twining perennials having cordate leaves and flowers arranged in conelike spikes; the dried flowers of this plant are used in brewing to add the characteristic bitter taste to beer

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

staying power

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

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

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

primarily temporal sense; being or indicating a relatively great or greater than average duration or passage of time or a duration as specified

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

engage in

From this reading She was helping to make a sickle to hang in front of the pulpit.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

a person with the same name as another

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

informal or slang terms for mentally irregular

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

on one occasion

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

a platform raised above the surrounding level to give prominence to the person on it

From this reading She was helping to make a sickle to hang in front of the pulpit.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

United States professional baseball player famous for hitting home runs (1895-1948)

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

(of persons) having the torso erect and legs bent with the body supported on the buttocks

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

Something that is kept or meant to be kept unknown or unseen by others.

From this reading HER FATHER'S SECRET.

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

From this reading She was helping to make a sickle to hang in front of the pulpit.

an edge tool for cutting grass or crops; has a curved blade and a short handle

From this reading She was helping to make a sickle to hang in front of the pulpit.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

with low volume

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

material consisting of seed coverings and small pieces of stem or leaves that have been separated from the seeds

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

changing location by moving back and forth

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

express in words

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

fourth Thursday in November in the United States; second Monday in October in Canada; commemorates a feast held in 1621 by the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

having intellectual depth

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

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

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

male cat

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

the upper part of anything

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

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

From this reading The Harvest Thanksgiving was to be held at the little church the following evening, and Ruth--like her namesake of long ago--was gathering the few stray ears of corn left among the stubble.

past form of “watch” — look attentively

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

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

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

at the time that

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

during the time that

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

which person or people

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

flower arrangement consisting of a circular band of foliage or flowers for ornamental purposes

From this reading At the top of a high six-barred gate sat Tom, swinging his legs and whistling softly in a thoughtful kind of way, while he watched Una and Dan, who were seated below him on the grass, making a wreath of red berries, hops and nuts.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

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

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.

belonging to the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Una," began Tom hesitatingly, "you said once--before you went away--that when you came back again you'd tell us about your father's secret.