Chapter I

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

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

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

From this reading Dick made the sigh very sad and pitiful.

the month following March and preceding May

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

in or to or toward a former location

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

a seat for one person, with a support for the back

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

someone who is a detective

From this reading Dick made the sigh very sad and pitiful.

the past form of “do”, used in questions and negatives

From this reading His father did not seem to hear it.

past form of “drift” — be in motion due to some air or water current

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

to a distinctly greater extent or degree than is common

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

a social unit living together

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

more distant in especially space or time

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

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

From this reading His father did not seem to hear it.

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

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

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

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

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

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

perceive (sound) via the auditory sense

From this reading His father did not seem to hear it.

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

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

used when the man or boy doing the action is also its object

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

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

From this reading His father did not seem to hear it.

used to add a contrasting statement

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading His father did not seem to hear it.

a game in which players try to pick each jackstraw (or spillikin) off of a pile without moving any of the others

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Dick made the sigh very sad and pitiful.

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

From this reading “O-O-Oh! oh me-e!”

moderate in type or degree or effect or force; far from extreme

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

the time period between dawn and noon

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

a form of address for a man

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

a form of address for a married woman

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

a daily or weekly publication on folded sheets; contains news and articles and advertisements

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading His father did not seem to hear it.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

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

From this reading “O-O-Oh! oh me-e!”

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

From this reading “O-O-Oh! oh me-e!”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

English playwright (1929-1994)

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

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

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

writing that provides information (especially information of an official nature)

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

a person who is gullible and easy to take advantage of

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

past form of “perch” — sit, as on a branch

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

inspiring mixed contempt and pity

From this reading Dick made the sigh very sad and pitiful.

-ing form of “pity” — share the suffering of

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

a structure attached to the exterior of a building often forming a covered entrance

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

a barrier consisting of a horizontal bar and supports

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

experiencing or showing sorrow or unhappiness

From this reading Dick made the sigh very sad and pitiful.

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

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading His father did not seem to hear it.

joining or attaching by stitches

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

heave or utter a sigh; breathe deeply and heavily

From this reading Dick made the sigh very sad and pitiful.

a flight of stairs or a flight of steps

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

having or denoting the characteristic taste of sugar

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

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

From this reading Dick made the sigh very sad and pitiful.

departing or being caused to depart from the true vertical or horizontal

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

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

From this reading His father did not seem to hear it.

to a degree exceeding normal or proper limits

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

past form of “unfold” — develop or come to a promising stage

From this reading He tilted his chair farther back, perched his feet on the porch railing, and unfolded his newspaper.

precisely as stated

From this reading Dick made the sigh very sad and pitiful.

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

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

which person or people

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

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

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.

in the company of; together with

From this reading It was a mild April morning, and the Osborne family had drifted out on the porch,--Mr. Osborne with his papers and Mrs. Osborne with her sewing; Sweet William was playing jackstraws with himself, Patsy sat on the steps with her back to the others, especially Dick, who, however, was pitying himself too much to notice her.