Chapter XX

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

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

(usually followed by “to”) having the necessary means or skill or know-how or authority to do something

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

on the subject of; concerning

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

(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 Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

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

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

a human limb; technically the part of the superior limb between the shoulder and the elbow but commonly used to refer to the whole superior limb

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

in or near a particular place or position

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

a vessel containing liquid in which something is immersed (as to process it or to maintain it at a constant temperature or to lubricate it)

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

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

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

a piece of furniture that provides a place to sleep

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

the past participle of “be”

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

earlier than; in front of

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

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

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

a youthful male person

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

plural of “boy” — a youthful male person

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

plural of “brother” — a male with the same parents as someone else

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

assign a specified (usually proper) proper name to

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

to be able to, or to be allowed to

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

the work of providing treatment for or attending to someone or something

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

behave as expected during of holidays or rites

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

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

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

free from dirt or impurities; or having clean habits

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

move toward, travel toward something or somebody or approach something or somebody

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

time for Earth to make a complete rotation on its axis

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

dearly loved

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

a beloved person; used as terms of endearment

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

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

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

the front of the human head from the forehead to the chin and ear to ear

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

possessive form of “father” — a male parent (also used as a term of address to your father)

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

a boy or man

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

plural of “firework” — (usually plural) a device with an explosive that burns at a low rate and with colored flames; can be used to illuminate areas or send signals etc.

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

preceding all others in time or space or degree

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

past form of “follow” — to travel behind, go after, come after

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

intended to be given to, or used by, somebody

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

plural of “fortune” — an unknown and unpredictable phenomenon that causes an event to result one way rather than another

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

following the third position; number four in a countable series

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

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

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

recently made, produced, or harvested

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

United States computer entrepreneur whose software company made him the youngest multi-billionaire in the history of the United States (born in 1955)

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

the mother of your father or mother

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

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

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

used with a past participle to form the perfect tenses

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

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

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

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

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

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

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

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

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

a thing, animal, or idea already mentioned

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

the month following June and preceding August

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

and nothing more

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

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

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

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

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

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

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

past form of “look” — perceive with attention; direct one's gaze towards

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

informal terms for a mother

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

used to say something is possible, or to give permission

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

used to say something is possible but not certain

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

plural of “misfortune” — unnecessary and unforeseen trouble resulting from an unfortunate event

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

belonging to the person speaking

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

not ever; at no time in the past or future

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

the time after sunset and before sunrise while it is dark outside

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

used to make a word, phrase, or sentence negative

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

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

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

not divisible by two

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

belonging to, or connected with, somebody or something

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

touching and supported by a surface

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

not allowed to continue to bat or run

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

plural of “pajama” — a pair of loose trousers tied by a drawstring around the waist; worn by men and women in some Asian countries

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

put into a certain place or abstract location

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

completely prepared or in condition for immediate action or use or progress

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

not move; be in a resting position

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

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

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

the seventh and last day of the week; observed as the Sabbath by Jews and some Christians

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

an educational institution

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

lift onto one's shoulders

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

from a time in the past until now

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

change one's facial expression by spreading the lips, often to signal pleasure

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

for that reason; with the result that

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

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

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

use up a period of time in a specific way

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

depleted of energy, force, or strength

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

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 Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

first day of the week; observed as a day of rest and worship by most Christians

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

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

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

understood in a certain way; made sense of

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

used to introduce what somebody said, thought, or felt

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

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

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

belonging to the people or things already mentioned

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

in or at that place or location

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

the plural of “this”: the people or things near, or just mentioned

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

judge or regard; look upon; judge

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

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

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

inflected form of “tell” — express in words

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

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

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

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

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

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

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

the speaker together with one or more other people

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

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

From this reading It was Saturday before the Fourth of July and Freddie knew that I might not be able to spend Sunday with him at the Brothers School--which was the first Sunday since Freddie was taken there that I had not spent the day with him.

a Caucasian

From this reading The little fellow had just had his night bath in my room and had put on his fresh, clean, white pajamas, ready for bed.

which person or people

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

in the company of; together with

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.

not having, not using, or not accompanied by

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

a late time of life

From this reading Now, it may seem odd to you and all the rest who have followed the story of Swiftwater’s fortunes and misfortunes, that I have never told you about the two dear little boys--Bera’s children--who all these years have been without a father’s care and who call their Grandma “Mama.”

the person or people being spoken to

From this reading “MAMA, don’t you think you can have some fireworks on the Fourth of July and come out to the Brothers School so that we can celebrate?”

superlative of “young” — (used of living things especially persons) in an early period of life or development or growth

From this reading Little Freddie Gates, Swiftwater’s youngest boy, looked up in my face with the dearest kind of a smile, and put his arm on my shoulder.