Chapter II

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

later than; following

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

how long something has existed

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

(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 And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

occupy in an agreeable, entertaining or pleasant fashion

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading “Once upon a time a grasshopper went to the fair with an ant.

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

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

social insect living in organized colonies; characteristically the males and fertile queen have wings during breeding season; wingless sterile females are the workers

From this reading “Once upon a time a grasshopper went to the fair with an ant.

(Judaism) sacred chest where the ancient Hebrews kept the two tablets containing the Ten Commandments

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

disposed or placed in a particular kind of order

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

a container that is usually woven and has handles

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

have

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

a written work or composition that has been published (printed on pages bound together)

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

trimming used to decorate clothes or curtains

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

cud-chewing mammal used as a draft or saddle animal in desert regions

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

the sphere of work by women

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

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 And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

the symbol of the Democratic Party; introduced in cartoons by Thomas Nast in 1874

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

five-toed pachyderm

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

the boy whose upbringing was described by Jean-Jacques Rousseau

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

free from favoritism or self-interest or bias or deception; conforming with established standards or rules

From this reading “Once upon a time a grasshopper went to the fair with an ant.

a small being, human in form, playful and having magical powers

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

third-person singular of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

brought together in one place

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

small swift graceful antelope of Africa and Asia having lustrous eyes

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

terrestrial plant-eating insect with hind legs adapted for leaping

From this reading “Once upon a time a grasshopper went to the fair with an ant.

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

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

solid-hoofed herbivorous quadruped domesticated since prehistoric times

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

indicating the most important performer or role

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

bordered by a line of things

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

a fabric woven with fibers from the flax plant

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

large gregarious predatory feline of Africa and India having a tawny coat with a shaggy mane in the male

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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 And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

a quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by “as” or “too” or “so” or “that”; amounting to a large but indefinite number

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

a distinguishing symbol

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

a woman who has given birth to a child (also used as a term of address to your mother)

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

possessive form of “noah” — the Hebrew patriarch who saved himself and his family and the animals by building an ark in which they survived 40 days and 40 nights of rain; the story of Noah and the flood is told in the Book of Genesis

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

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

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

on one occasion

From this reading “Once upon a time a grasshopper went to the fair with an ant.

used to mean any person in general, including the speaker

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

United States feminist (1885-1977)

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

the act of playing a musical instrument

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

-ing form of “ply” — give what is desired or needed, especially support, food or sustenance

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

(theology) the origination of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

the cognitive process of understanding a written linguistic message

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

red color or pigment; the chromatic color resembling the hue of blood

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

being the one previously mentioned or spoken of

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

Identical; not different.

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

woolly usually horned ruminant mammal related to the goat

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

the quality of being simple or uncompounded

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

the cardinal number that is the sum of five and one

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

(biology) tiny fibers that are seen in cell division; the fibers radiate from two poles and meet at the equator in the middle

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

support consisting of a radial member of a wheel joining the hub to the rim

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

a message that tells the particulars of an act or occurrence or course of events; presented in writing or drama or cinema or as a radio or television program

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

express in words

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

the people or things already mentioned, as the object

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

subsequently or soon afterward (often used as sentence connectors)

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

to move or cause to move in a sinuous, spiral, or circular course

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

an instance or single occasion for some event

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

depleted of strength or energy

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

in contact with each other or in proximity

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

consistent with fact or reality; not false

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

-ing form of “twirl” — turn in a twisting or spinning motion

From this reading And with the simplicity of old age Mother Ambroisine spoke as follows, at the same time twirling her spindle:

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

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

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

a formal word for “on”

From this reading “Once upon a time a grasshopper went to the fair with an ant.

the speaker and others, as the object of a verb or preposition

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

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

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

inflected form of “go” — change location; move, travel, or proceed, also metaphorically

From this reading “Once upon a time a grasshopper went to the fair with an ant.

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

From this reading THE FAIRY TALE AND THE TRUE STORY THE six of them were gathered together.

at the time that

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

slender flexible branches or twigs (especially of willow or some canes); used for wickerwork

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.

used to talk about the future, or about willingness

From this reading And when they had lined up the horse after the camel, the dog after the horse, then the sheep, donkey, ox, lion, elephant, bear, gazelle, and a great many others,—when they had them all arranged in a long procession leading to the ark, Emile and Jules, tired of playing, said to Mother Ambroisine: “Tell us a story, Mother Ambroisine—one that will amuse us.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Uncle Paul was reading in a big book, Jacques braiding a wicker basket, Mother Ambroisine plying her distaff, Claire marking linen with red thread, Emile and Jules playing with the Noah’s Ark.