Chapter IV · Chapter 4

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

(quantifier) used with either mass or count nouns to indicate the whole number or amount of or every one of a class

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

one or some or every or all without specification

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

tough protective covering of the woody stems and roots of trees and other woody plants

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

food made from dough of flour or meal and usually raised with yeast or baking powder and then baked

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

liquid in which meat and vegetables are simmered; used as a basis for e.g. soups or sauces

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading CCLIII.

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

From this reading CCLIV.

plural of “child” — a young person of either sex

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

utter a sudden loud cry

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

absence of light or illumination

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

a special loved one

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

a member of the genus Canis (probably descended from the common wolf) that has been domesticated by man since prehistoric times; occurs in many breeds

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

inflected form of “give” — cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

where you live at a particular time

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

a specific instance of feeling hopeful

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

on condition that; in the event that

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

be cognizant or aware of a fact or a specific piece of information; possess knowledge or information about

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

past form of “live” — be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

with relatively high volume

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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 was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

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

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

not one, and not any

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

a midwestern state in north central United States in the Great Lakes region

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

the posterior part of the body of a vertebrate especially when elongated and extending beyond the trunk or main part of the body

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

in or at that place or location

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

used for a person or thing that is near, or that has just been mentioned

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

a witty amusing person who makes jokes

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

emit long loud cries

From this reading "But if it be I, as I do hope it be, I've a little dog at home, and he'll know me; If it be I, he'll wag his little tail, And if it be not I, he'll loudly bark and wail."

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

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

(often used as a combining form) in a good or proper or satisfactory manner or to a high standard (“good” is a nonstandard dialectal variant for “well”)

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

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

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"

used to ask for information about something

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

inflected form of “whip” — beat severely with a whip or rod

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

which person or people

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading There was an old woman who lived in a shoe, She had so many children she didn't know what to do; She gave them some broth without any bread, She whipped them all well and put them to bed.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading Home went the little woman all in the dark, Up got the little dog, and he began to bark; He began to bark, so she began to cry, "Oh! deary, deary me, this is none of I!"