Chapter XI · Cooks and Crooks

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

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

in the past

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

(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 Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

to a complete degree or to the full or entire extent (“whole” is often used informally for “wholly”)

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

used to indicate that a statement explains or supports a previous statement

From this reading "There’s one more, anyway," says Bill Bangs.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

plural of “bang” — a vigorous blow

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

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

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

a statute in draft before it becomes law

From this reading "There’s one more, anyway," says Bill Bangs.

a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

showing who or what does the action

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

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

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

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

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

the flesh of a chicken used for food

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

the past of “can”; used for possibility or polite requests

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

plural of “creditor” — a person to whom money is owed by a debtor; someone to whom an obligation exists

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

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

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

a licensed medical practitioner

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

having finished or arrived at completion

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

being one more than ten

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

a quad with a square body

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

characterized by directness in manner or speech; without subtlety or evasion

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

an association of criminals

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

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

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

an interior passage or corridor onto which rooms open

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

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

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

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

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

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

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

water frozen in the solid state

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

(Old Testament) an Israelite prophet who is remembered for his angry lamentations (jeremiads) about the wickedness of his people (circa 626-587 BC)

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

an adult person who is male (as opposed to a woman)

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

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

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

the flesh of animals (including fishes and birds and snails) used as food

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

come together

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

a white nutritious liquid secreted by mammals and used as food by human beings

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

(comparative of “much” used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

an announcement containing information about an event

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading "There’s one more, anyway," says Bill Bangs.

coated with paint

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

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

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

plural of “place” — a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

one of four equal parts

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

past form of “repair” — restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

plural of “repair” — the act of putting something in working order again

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

plural of “say” — the chance to speak

From this reading "There’s one more, anyway," says Bill Bangs.

cause fear in

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

the cardinal number that is the sum of six and one

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

primarily temporal sense; indicating or being or seeming to be limited in duration

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

orally recite the letters of or give the spelling of

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

a woman steward on an airplane

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

a mercantile establishment for the retail sale of goods or services

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

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

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

in or at that place or location

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

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

From this reading "There’s one more, anyway," says Bill Bangs.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

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

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

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

From this reading Seven was all the creditors Perkins could scare up on short notice, though he cal’lated there was more.

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

From this reading I was at the store by quarter of eleven, but the gang of creditors was there to meet me, seven of ’em altogether.

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

From this reading Cahoon, the chicken man, and Bangs, the milk man, and Hall, the ice man, and Alpheus, and Caleb Bearse, who’d been supplyin’ meat to that road-house, and Peleg Doane, who’d done carpenterin’ and repairs on it, and Jeremiah Doane, his brother, who’d painted the repaired places.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.

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

From this reading "That dark-complected woman—the one you call the stewardess, Cap’n Zeb—was sick a spell ago and Frank told Doctor Goodspeed he’d be responsible for the bill.