Chapter I · Chapter 1

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

advanced in years; (“aged” is pronounced as two syllables)

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

prior to a specified or implied time

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

at all times; all the time and on every occasion

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

surrounded by; in the middle of a group

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

plural of “beast” — a living organism characterized by voluntary movement

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

the entire physical structure of an organism (an animal, plant, or human being)

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

a youthful male person

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

inflected form of “bring” — take something or somebody with oneself somewhere

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

an onerous or difficult concern

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

used to introduce something that contrasts with what came before

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

a woodworker who makes or repairs wooden objects

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

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

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

the total spent for goods or services including money and time and labor

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

past form of “count” — determine the number or amount of

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

past form of “die” — pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

lacking in liveliness or animation

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

covered with a layer of dust

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

an adequate quantity; a quantity that is large enough to achieve a purpose

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

apart from; not including

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

steadfast in affection or allegiance

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

something many people believe that is false

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

any federal law-enforcement officer

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

cause to fall by or as if by delivering a blow

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

a boy or man

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “a”; a small but indefinite number

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

United States comedian and film actor (1880-1946)

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

showing where something starts, or who sent it

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

cause to have, in the abstract sense or physical sense

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

relatively large in size or number or extent; larger than others of its kind

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

in a grudging manner

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

the locus of feelings and intuitions

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

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

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

where you live at a particular time

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

used of physical heat; having a high or higher than desirable temperature or giving off heat or feeling or causing a sensation of heat or burning

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

a married man; a woman's partner in marriage

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

having or showing a tender and considerate and helpful nature; used especially of persons and their behavior

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

a special way of doing something

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

a social class comprising those who do manual labor or work for wages

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

immediately past

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

location near or direction toward the left side; i.e. the side to the north when a person or object faces east

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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 It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

the capital and largest city situated centrally in Spain; home of an outstanding art museum

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

to a great degree or extent

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

plural of “neighbor” — a person who lives (or is located) near another

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

not any; not one

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

not one thing; not anything

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

used to join alternatives or possibilities

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

relating to or being on or near the outer side or limit

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

an adult castrated bull of the genus Bos; especially Bos taurus

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

not having enough money to pay for necessities

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

a point located with respect to surface features of some region

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

deserving or inciting pity

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

make ready or suitable or equip in advance for a particular purpose or for some use, event, etc

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

a person who cares for persons or property

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

possessing material wealth

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

except for; apart from

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

a female person who has the same parents as another person

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

not moving quickly; taking a comparatively long time

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

possessive form of “summer” — the warmest season of the year; in the northern hemisphere it extends from the summer solstice to the autumnal equinox

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

used to introduce the second part of a comparison

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

used when the people doing the action are also its object

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

a special situation

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

turned or stirred by plowing or harrowing or hoeing

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

very small

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

a successful ending of a struggle or contest

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

the cardinal number that is the sum of one and one or a numeral representing this number

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

possessive form of “uncle” — the brother of your father or mother; the husband of your aunt

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

any piece of work that is undertaken or attempted

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

a formal word for “on”

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

plural of “vegetable” — edible seeds or roots or stems or leaves or bulbs or tubers or nonsweet fruits of any of numerous herbaceous plant

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

precisely as stated

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

plural of “vineyard” — a farm of grapevines where wine grapes are produced

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

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

From this reading It had been a great undertaking for him in the first place, for he was a slow fellow--José; slow as he was dull and kind and faithful to Pepita and the grandmother.

(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 He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.

the past form of “be” used with you, we, they, or a plural noun

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

at the time that

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

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

From this reading It had taken him a long time, and it had cost him--José--much hard labor, to prepare for his aged grandmother and Pepita the tiny home outside Madrid, to which he at last brought them in great triumph one hot summer’s day, when the very vine-leaves and orange-trees themselves were dusty.

in the company of; together with

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

an adult female person (as opposed to a man)

From this reading His uncle had been counted a rich man among his neighbors, but when his sister and her husband died and left the two children, José and Pepita, penniless, and with no protector save himself and their grandmother, already an old woman, it was upon the grandmother that the burden fell, for he did nothing for them except to give them, grudgingly now and then, a few poor vegetables or a little fallen fruit.

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

From this reading He had a body as big as an ox, and a heart as big as his body, but he was slow and dull in everything but one thing--that was his carpenter work.

past form of “work” — exert oneself by doing mental or physical work for a purpose or out of necessity

From this reading He was well enough at that, and more than well enough, for he had always had a fancy and a knack for it from the time when as a boy he had worked in his uncle’s vineyards and tilled his fields and fed his beasts.