Chapter XXVI

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

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

tending to become more severe or wider in scope

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

plural of “adjustment” — making or becoming suitable; adjusting to circumstances

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

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

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

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

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

equipment designed to serve a specific function

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

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

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

the grounds in back of a house

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

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

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

any of numerous hairy-bodied insects including social and solitary species

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

possessive form of “bell” — a hollow device made of metal that makes a ringing sound when struck

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

a youthful male person

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

plural of “chum” — a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

a slight indication

From this reading DING-DONG’S CLUE.

the activity of communicating; the activity of conveying information

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

inflected form of “compel” — force somebody to do something

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

persuaded of; very sure

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

the condition of being susceptible to harm or injury

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

the noise made by a bell

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

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

From this reading DING-DONG’S CLUE.

the property created by the space between two objects or points

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

at or near the beginning of a period of time or course of events or before the usual or expected time

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

make plain and comprehensible

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

plural of “fear” — an emotion experienced in anticipation of some specific pain or danger (usually accompanied by a desire to flee or fight)

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

with fondness; with love

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

any of numerous agile ruminants related to sheep but having a beard and straight horns

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

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

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

past form of “ground” — fix firmly and stably

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

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

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

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

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

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

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

past form of “hope” — expect and wish

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

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

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

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

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

plural of “instrument” — a device that requires skill for proper use

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

a land mass (smaller than a continent) that is surrounded by water

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

a polite name for any woman

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

immediately past

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

abrupt electric discharge from cloud to cloud or from cloud to earth accompanied by the emission of light

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

held dear

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

easily agitated

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

not any; not one

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

(used especially of persons) having lived for a relatively long time or attained a specific age

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

owed as a debt

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

have ownership or possession of

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

plural of “present” — the period of time that is happening now; any continuous stretch of time including the moment of speech

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

in the right manner; correctly; suitably

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

on the contrary

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

past form of “release” — release, as from one's grip

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

get rid of

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

the land along the edge of a body of water

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

(quantifier) used with either mass nouns or plural count nouns to indicate an unspecified number or quantity

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

a kind of arboreal rodent having a long bushy tail

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

reappraisal of a situation or position or outlook

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

of the kind already mentioned

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

an implement used in the practice of a vocation

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

tested and proved useful or correct

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

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

From this reading The boy had tried to explain to her that a properly grounded apparatus presents no such danger, but the good lady would not be convinced; so Ding-dong had been compelled to set up his instruments in an old tool shed, rather than in his own room as he had fondly hoped.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

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

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

medium for communication

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

in the company of; together with

From this reading Ding-dong Bell, released early from the, to him, irksome task of stock-taking in his father’s store, was making the last adjustments on the new shore wireless station which was to place him in communication with his chums on Goat Island.

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

From this reading He hummed away at the work he loved, as busy as a bee and as active as a squirrel.

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

From this reading The new station was in the backyard of his home and at some distance from the house, owing to Mrs. Bell’s nervous fears that it would attract lightning.