Chapter II · What Josephine Morse Needed

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

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

(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 Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

the form of “a” used before a word that begins with a vowel sound

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

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

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

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

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

feeling shame or guilt or embarrassment or remorse

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

third-person singular of “become” — enter or assume a certain state or condition

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

emitting or reflecting light readily or in large amounts

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

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

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

plural of “crosswalk” — a path (often marked) where something (as a street or railroad) can be crossed to get from one side to the other

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

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

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

put, fix, force, or implant

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

third-person singular of “develop” — make something new, such as a product or a mental or artistic creation

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

a region marked off for administrative or other purposes

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

a heavy rain

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

lacking in liveliness or charm or surprise

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

(of rain) falling lightly in very small drops

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

hinge joint between the forearm and upper arm and the corresponding joint in the forelimb of a quadruped

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

either extremity of something that has length

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

(comparative of “fine”) greater in quality or excellence

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

the outside boundary or surface of something

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

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

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

feeling or showing little interest or enthusiasm

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

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

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

not disposed to cheat or defraud; not deceptive or fraudulent

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

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

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

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

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

tending to increase knowledge or dissipate ignorance

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

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

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

used when the thing doing the action is also its object

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

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

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

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

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

large or big relative to something else

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

the act of departing

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

plural of “light” — (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

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

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

the basic unit of length adopted under the Systeme International d'Unites (approximately 1.094 yards)

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

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 In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

the world of commercial activity where goods and services are bought and sold

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

a telegraph code in which letters and numbers are represented by strings of dots and dashes (short and long signals)

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

make or become more narrow or restricted

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

a nonmetallic bivalent element that is normally a colorless odorless tasteless nonflammable diatomic gas; constitutes 21 percent of the atmosphere by volume; the most abundant element in the earth's crust

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

poor enough to need help from others

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

a unit of radiation exposure; the dose of ionizing radiation that will produce 1 electrostatic unit of electricity in 1 cc of dry air

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

water falling in drops from vapor condensed in the atmosphere

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

falling in drops or as if falling like rain

From this reading It was raining, too.

a self-contained part of a larger composition (written or musical)

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

cover or stain with slime

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

feeling a need to see others suffer

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

the act of splashing a (liquid) substance on a surface

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

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

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

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

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

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

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

happening unexpectedly

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

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

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Especially was this so at the “poverty-stricken end,” as Josephine Morse called her section of the street.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It was raining, too.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

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

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

having an abundant supply of money or possessions of value

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

shed tears because of sadness, rage, or pain

From this reading Not an honest, splashing downpour, but a drizzling, half-hearted rain that drifted about the streets as though ashamed of itself, leaving a deposit of slime on all the crosswalks, and making the corner street-lamps weep great tears.

in or at the place that

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

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

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.

single because of death of the spouse

From this reading Jess and her widowed mother lived on the fringe of the wealthy Hill district, where Whiffle Street develops an elbow, suddenly becomes narrow, and debouches upon Market Street.

(trademark) an operating system with a graphical user interface

From this reading In spite of the bright lights illuminating the windows of the M. O. R. house—and many other larger and finer houses at that end of Whiffle Street—outside it was dark and dreary enough.