Chapter VIII · What Happened

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

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

following the length of something from one end toward the other

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading Pa woke up and they both listened.

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

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

the two together, not just one

From this reading Pa woke up and they both listened.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

a commissioned military officer in the United States Army or Air Force or Marines who ranks above a lieutenant colonel and below a brigadier general

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

the time during which someone's life continues

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

suitable to or characteristic of drama

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

past form of “drawl” — lengthen and slow down or draw out

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

-ing form of “enjoy” — derive or receive pleasure from; get enjoyment from; take pleasure in

From this reading Gibralter was thoroughly enjoying their suspense.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

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

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading Gibralter was thoroughly enjoying their suspense.

suffering from gout

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

detected or perceived by the sense of hearing

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

the back of a horse

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

a humorous anecdote or remark intended to provoke laughter

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

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

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

being or occurring at an advanced period of time or after a usual or expected time

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

past form of “listen” — hear with intention

From this reading Pa woke up and they both listened.

be an inhabitant of or reside in

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

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 “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

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

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

produced by a manufacturing process

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

the act that results in something coming to be

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

joined in matrimony

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

12 o'clock at night; the middle of the night

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

a particular point in time

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

not any; not one

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

in the historical present; at this point in the narration of a series of past events

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

on one occasion

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

an informal term for a father; probably derived from baby talk

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

capable of happening or existing

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

precisely, exactly

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

an open way (generally public) for travel or transportation

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

inflected form of “ride” — sit and travel on the back of animal, usually while controlling its motions

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

a division of an ocean or a large body of salt water partially enclosed by land

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

be seated

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

apprehension about what is going to happen

From this reading Gibralter was thoroughly enjoying their suspense.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Gibralter was thoroughly enjoying their suspense.

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

From this reading Pa woke up and they both listened.

in an exhaustive manner

From this reading Gibralter was thoroughly enjoying their suspense.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

an architectural partition with a height and length greater than its thickness; used to divide or enclose an area or to support another structure

From this reading “Wall,” he drawled, making the moment as dramatic as possible, “’long about midnight, once, Pa heard a gallopin’ horse comin’ along the road from the sea.

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

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

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

From this reading Gibralter was thoroughly enjoying their suspense.

how something is done or how it happens

From this reading Pa knew thar wan’t no one as rode horseback but the old Colonel himself, an’, bein’ as he’d been gettin’ gouty, he hadn’t been doin’ much ridin’ of late days, Pa said, but thar was somethin’ about the way the horse was gallopin’ that made Pa sit right up in bed.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

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

From this reading He an’ Ma’d jest been married an’ started keepin’ house in the store right whar we live now.

inflected form of “wake” — be awake, be alert, be there

From this reading Pa woke up and they both listened.