Chapter XII

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

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

(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 The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

providing enjoyment; pleasantly entertaining

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

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

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

from a particular thing or place or position (“forth” is obsolete)

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

plural of “bit” — a small piece or quantity of something

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

a youthful male person

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

actively or fully engaged or occupied

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

a young person of either sex

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

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

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

overlaid or spread or topped with or enclosed within something; sometimes used as a combining form

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

the main meal of the day served in the evening or at midday

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

used to form questions and negatives, and to give emphasis

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

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

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

all things; all of a situation

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

having dropped by the force of gravity

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

a social unit living together

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

start firing a weapon

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

the inside lower horizontal surface (as of a room, hallway, tent, or other structure)

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

provide with a combustible substance that provides energy

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

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

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

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

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

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

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

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

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

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

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

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

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was a very nice play.

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

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

plural of “life” — a characteristic state or mode of living

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

used to say something is necessary, or almost certainly true

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

pleasant or pleasing or agreeable in nature or appearance

From this reading It was a very nice play.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

above and across; more than

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

plural of “plate” — (baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

participate in games or sport

From this reading It was a very nice play.

plural of “play” — a dramatic work intended for performance by actors on a stage

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

an artifact designed to be played with

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

characterized by an absence or near absence of agitation or activity

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

an area within a building enclosed by walls and floor and ceiling

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

a native or inhabitant of Russia

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

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

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

a pen for sheep

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

with low volume

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

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

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

creating thread

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

a simple seat without a back or arms

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

past form of “talk” — exchange thoughts; talk with

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

inflected form of “teach” — impart skills or knowledge to

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

in spite of the fact that

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

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

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.

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

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

precisely as stated

From this reading It was a very nice play.

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

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

clean by virtue of having been washed in water

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

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

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

at the time that

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

including all components without exception; being one unit or constituting the full amount or extent or duration; complete

From this reading The room was very quiet, for, though the little boy talked all the time to his sheep and his dog, he had been taught to talk softly in his plays, as all children must do when a whole family lives in one room.

in the company of; together with

From this reading THE SHEEP-PLAY The dinner was over, the plates washed and put away, and grandmother was busy with her spinning.

made or consisting of (entirely or in part) or employing wood

From this reading The bits of wool were sheep, and a wooden stool was a sheepfold, and a bit of fuel that had fallen when grandmother covered up the fire was the sheep-dog.

a fabric made from the hair of sheep

From this reading The little boy was amusing himself with some bits of wool that had fallen to the floor, for everything is a plaything to a Russian child.