Chapter I

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

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

in addition

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

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

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

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

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

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

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

take the first step or steps in carrying out an action

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

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

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

in the space, time, or range separating two things

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements; filled with bewilderment

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

the act of drawing spatially closer to something

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

a person who shows fear or timidity

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

an event (or a course of events) that will inevitably happen in the future

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

past form of “disappear” — get lost, as without warning or explanation

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

operate or control a vehicle

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

hard monotonous routine work

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

at any time

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

be a farmer; work as a farmer

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

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

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

borne up by or suspended in a liquid

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

any substance that can be metabolized by an animal to give energy and build tissue

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

nervous and unable to relax

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

having desirable or positive qualities especially those suitable for a thing specified

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

(of animals) fully developed

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

one who works hard at boring tasks

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

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

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

a county of southern England on the English Channel

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

come to pass

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

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

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

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

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

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

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

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

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

the side or slope of a hill

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

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

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

someone who is incapacitated by a chronic illness or injury

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

inflected form of “know” — be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

the state of needing something that is absent or unavailable

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

the main organ of photosynthesis and transpiration in higher plants

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

prefer or wish to do something

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

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

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

being excited or provoked to the expression of an emotion

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

leave undone or leave out

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

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

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

immediately following in time or order

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

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

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

not any; not one

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

the time that has elapsed

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

pleasing by delicacy or grace; not imposing

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

especially of petals or leaves in bud; having margins rolled inward

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

move fast by using one's feet, with one foot off the ground at any given time

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

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

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

inflected form of “see” — perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

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

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

and nothing more

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

(used of eyes) open and fixed as if in fear or wonder

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

a facility equipped with special equipment and personnel for a particular purpose

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

plural of “stone” — a lump or mass of hard consolidated mineral matter

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

in a swift manner

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

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

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

from one end or side of something to the other

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

the periodic rise and fall of the sea level under the gravitational pull of the moon

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

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

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

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

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

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

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

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

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

plural of “week” — any period of seven consecutive days

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

used to ask for information about something

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

in or at the place that

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

the act of rotating in a circle or spiral

From this reading Things had moved pretty swiftly in the past few weeks, and Betsy had been simply a bewildered leaf floating on the whirling tide of destiny.

which person or people

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

a married woman; a man's partner in marriage

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

a framework of wood or metal that contains a glass windowpane and is built into a wall or roof to admit light or air

From this reading THE COMING OF BETSY Betsy sat staring through the window of the first hack she had ever been in,--also it was the first she had ever seen.

in the company of; together with

From this reading To begin with, her father had disappeared;--run away from the little farm on the New Hampshire hillside.

showing curiosity

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.

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

From this reading Tired of the stones and the drudgery--tired, too, of the wife, who, through neglect, hard work and lack of good food, had grown to be a fretful invalid--he had disappeared like a coward, in the night, no one knew where.

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

From this reading She was wondering, wondering, as she rolled along up two-mile drive that lay between the station and the Hill-Top, what would happen next.