Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

from one side of something to the other

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

anew

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

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

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

a strong emotion; a feeling that is oriented toward some real or supposed grievance

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

surrounding, or on every side of, something

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

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

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

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

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

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

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

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

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

a youthful male person

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

touched lightly in passing; grazed against

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

ruined by overcooking

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

either side of the face below the eyes

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

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 There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

a place off to the side of an area

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

no longer having or seeming to have or expecting to have life

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

the act of making up your mind about something

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

with obstinate determination

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

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

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

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

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

divisible by two

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

opinion or judgment

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

having an (over)abundance of flesh

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

enclose with a fence

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

plural of “finger” — any of the terminal members of the hand (sometimes excepting the thumb)

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

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

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

a plot of ground where plants are cultivated

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

the act of acquiring something

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

the solid part of the earth's surface

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

(biology) the process of an individual organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

come to pass

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

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

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

of comparatively great physical weight or density

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

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

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

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

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

a tool with a flat blade attached at right angles to a long handle

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

in an impudent or impertinent manner

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

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

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

in place of, or as an alternative to

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

no longer active or practicing

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

plural of “lash” — any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

immediately past

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

held up in the air

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

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

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

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 His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

move something or somebody to a lower position

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

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

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

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

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

near in time or place or relationship

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

not of long duration; having just (or relatively recently) come into being or been made or acquired or discovered

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

reach a destination, either real or abstract

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

possessing material wealth

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

an arrangement of objects or people side by side in a line

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

inflected form of “sink” — fall or descend to a lower place or level

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

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

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

an irregularly shaped spot

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

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

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

make steady

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

past form of “straighten” — straighten up or out; make straight

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

(sports) the act of swinging or striking at a ball with a club or racket or bat or cue or hand

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

(used in combination) affected by something overwhelming

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

showing a brooding ill humor

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

in a swift manner

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

the sound of light blow or knock

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

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

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

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

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

inflected form of “take” — carry out

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

the upper part of anything

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

a tall perennial woody plant having a main trunk and branches forming a distinct elevated crown; includes both gymnosperms and angiosperms

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

moved around an axis or center

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

below or beneath something; less than

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

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

From this reading There he straightened up and brushed his earth-stained fingers across a dullred splotch on one cheek of his sullen set face.

precisely as stated

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.

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

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

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

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

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

From this reading He was getting a little too big to be struck by a woman, even if she were his own mother, and nothing like that must happen again.

in or at the place that

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

used to introduce a clause giving more about a thing just mentioned

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading His heavy lashes lifted and he looked long at the woman on the porch--looked without anger now and with a new decision in his steady eyes.

bird with strong claws and a stiff tail adapted for climbing and a hard chisel-like bill for boring into wood for insects

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading A woodpecker was impudently tapping the top of a dead burnt tree near by, and the boy started to reach for a stone, but turned instead and went doggedly to work on the next row, which took him to the lower corner of the garden fence, where the ground was black and rich.

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

From this reading There, as he sank his hoe with the last stroke around the last hill of corn, a fat fishing-worm wriggled under his very eyes, and the growing man lapsed swiftly into the boy again.