Chapter XVII · Chapter 17

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

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

cause to slow down or get stuck

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

Bound written or printed works.

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

a youthful male person

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

(used of soaps or cleaning agents) having a substance (an abrasive or filler) added to increase effectiveness

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

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

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

the particular occupation for which you are trained

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

past form of “cart” — draw slowly or heavily

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

the activity of selecting the scenes to be shown and putting them together to create a film

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

-ing form of “do” — engage in

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

(slang) offensive term for a lesbian who is noticeably masculine

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

the capital of Scotland; located in the Lothian Region on the south side of the Firth of Forth

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

the act of enclosing something inside something else

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

to or in any or all places

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

being satisfactory or in satisfactory condition

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

green color or pigment; resembling the color of growing grass

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

inflected form of “grow” — pass into a condition gradually, take on a specific property or attribute; become

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

(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 were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

grass mowed and cured for use as fodder

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

a local and well-defined elevation of the land

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

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

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

cause to continue in a certain state, position, or activity; e.g., “keep clean”

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

the person speaking or writing, as the subject of the verb

From this reading I TURN SCHOOLMASTER.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

moving to the inside of something

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

and nothing more

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

a landowner

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

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

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

a girl or young woman who is unmarried

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

a position on a scale of intensity or amount or quality

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

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

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

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 Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

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 There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

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

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

the person speaking, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

in large part; mainly or chiefly

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

verbal abuse; a crude substitute for argument

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

one side of one leaf (of a book or magazine or newspaper or letter etc.) or the written or pictorial matter it contains

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

an act of economizing; reduction in cost

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

an educational institution

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

past form of “school” — educate in or as if in a school

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

the act of teaching at school

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

presiding officer of a school

From this reading I TURN SCHOOLMASTER.

perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

a male human offspring

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

a large number or amount

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

the people, animals, or things already mentioned, as the subject

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

any movable possession (especially articles of clothing)

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

marked by order and cleanliness in appearance or habits

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

surface layer of ground containing a mat of grass and grass roots

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

change orientation or direction, also in the abstract sense

From this reading I TURN SCHOOLMASTER.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

(used informally) very small

From this reading They would be with me everywhere on the long summer days, and me with the books by me; but mostly in the summer we would hold school at the Wee Hill, for there was a green place as level as the page of a book, and a little turf dyke enclosing it nearly, that we called the Wee Hill.

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

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

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

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

at the time that

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

which person or people

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.

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

From this reading It was the boys we would aye be calling them, Dan's boy and the Laird's son, and they were fine boys.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading There were many things to be doing in these days--peats to be cutting and carted home and built into tidy stacks, just as you can see them to-day, and the sprits and bog hay to be saving, for we were not good at growing hay, and then, when the boys grew up, there was the schooling of them.

(used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Bryde McBride, that was the name of Dan's son, and Hugh, with a wheen other names, was the young Laird, who was schooled in Edinburgh and was not long back to us, and there was a lass Margaret, his sister.