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 She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

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

From this reading "Whut you been a-doin', Jason?"

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

From this reading And invariably his answer was: "Nothin' much."

react verbally

From this reading And invariably his answer was: "Nothin' much."

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading "Whut you been a-doin', Jason?"

possessive form of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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 But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

a man's courting of a woman; seeking the affections of a woman (usually with the hope of marriage)

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

every day; without missing a day

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

absence of light or illumination

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

the boundary of a surface

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

plural of “foot” — the part of the leg of a human being below the ankle joint

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

a piece of land cleared of trees and usually enclosed

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

grant freedom to; free from confinement

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

showing or causing joy and pleasure; especially made happy

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

inflected form of “get” — come into the possession of something concrete or abstract

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

an established custom

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading And invariably his answer was: "Nothin' much."

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

From this reading She was a Honeycutt and she had married one Hawn, and there had been much trouble.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

without variation or change, in every case

From this reading And invariably his answer was: "Nothin' much."

(Greek mythology) the husband of Medea and leader of the Argonauts who sailed in quest of the Golden Fleece

From this reading "Whut you been a-doin', Jason?"

conformity or harmony

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

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

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

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 But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

joined in matrimony

From this reading She was a Honeycutt and she had married one Hawn, and there had been much trouble.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

someone who climbs mountains

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading And invariably his answer was: "Nothin' much."

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

From this reading And invariably his answer was: "Nothin' much."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading She was a Honeycutt and she had married one Hawn, and there had been much trouble.

above and across; more than

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

a course of conduct

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

plural of “plan” — a series of steps to be carried out or goals to be accomplished

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

a long narrow natural elevation or striation

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

having a sharp inclination

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

showing a brooding ill humor

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

changing location by moving back and forth

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

in or at that place or location

From this reading She was a Honeycutt and she had married one Hawn, and there had been much trouble.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

a source of difficulty

From this reading She was a Honeycutt and she had married one Hawn, and there had been much trouble.

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

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

occurring or encountered or experienced or observed frequently or in accordance with regular practice or procedure

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading And invariably his answer was: "Nothin' much."

the process of paying close and continuous attention

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

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

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

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

From this reading "Whut you been a-doin', Jason?"

the trees and other plants in a large densely wooded area

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

Damaged or thinned by continuous use.

From this reading But, by and by, as the long dark mountaineer, Steve Hawn, got in the daily habit of swinging over the ridge, she was glad to be free from the boy's sullen watchfulness, and particularly that morning she was glad to see him start as usual up the path his own feet had worn through the steep field of corn, and disappear in the edge of the woods.

used for something imagined, polite, or habitual in the past

From this reading She would have a long day for courtship and for talk of plans which she was keeping secret from little Jason.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "Whut you been a-doin', Jason?"